One of the UK’s most original singers, Gwyneth Herbert, joins forces with the members of the Buck Clayton Legacy Band to explore the jazz repertoire of Peggy Lee. The band’s arrangers, Matthias Seuffert, Adrian Fry and Menno Daams, have taken Lee’s work with Jack Marshall, Quincy Jones and Billy May to create new charts for what has been recognised as one of Europe’s leading mainstream bands. Gwyneth brings her own unique gift for storytelling in song to reinterpret tales of love lost and found, as well as the life affirming qualities of music itself. Expect vibrant playing from what Jazz UK called this “knockout band” plus tears of pain and joy from songs both familiar and less well known. The sets will also include music by Buck Clayton himself, and left to co-leader Alyn Shipton to keep his memory alive.
“The former Basie trumpeter gave co-leader Alyn Shipton a box of original music: revamped for this brilliant nonet by saxophonist, Matthias Seuffert, Clayton’s pieces lived again, emphasising his composer’s gift for well-shaped, swinging structures, the playing as exuberant yet concise as any Basie-ite might wish. Seuffert rolled out his classic, big-toned tenor, Alan Barnes adapted his alto style to suit and the brass trio of Menno Daams and Ian Smith, trumpets, and Adrian Fry, trombone, pulled out all the necessary stops. Daams, from Holland, plays hot when necessary but is equally adept at easing down in Hackett-like fashion on something soft and slow like ‘Smoothie’.”
Peter Vacher, Jazz UK.
The musicians: Gwyneth Herbert, vocals; with Matthias Seuffert, reeds and Alyn Shipton, bass (co-leaders); Menno Daams and Ian Smith, trumpets; Alan Barnes, reeds; Adrian Fry, trombone; Martin Litton, piano; Martin Wheatley, guitar; Bobby Worth, drums.
Band photos: Ben Edwards/Erproductions
