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Tonight’s ‘Homage to Grappelli’ features young British violin virtuoso Christian Garrick with three of the finest
sidemen you’re likely to find in the world of jazz today.
Double bass man Alec Dankworth needs no introduction, he’s on home turf tonight. John Horler
is an unsung hero and pianist of the highest order with a formidable list of credits and collaborations to his credit including stints with Art Farmer, Zoot Sims, John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. Drummer
Alan Ganley, also a long-time stalwart of John and Cleo, is famous for his partnership with Stan Getz, Tubby Hayes and the great man himself, Stephane Grappelli.
Back in the 70s my Dad would
play Grappelli LPs to me. I remember those EMI recordings the great Frenchman made with Yehudi Menuhin
featuring standards like ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Cheek to Cheek’ and ‘Summertime’. I think Dad would have liked me to have been able to play like that, no chance!
Dad is here tonight and
I’m sure, along with Mum, looking forward to a trip down memory lane. ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ and ‘Crazy Rhythm’ open the show with Garrick’s fine free flowing style evident from the opening
bars. Charlie Parker’s fabulous ‘Barbados’ and ‘Between’, a number written by Christian himself, follow next, without doubt two great highlights on the night.
The second half brings ‘It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing’ dedededde dededede. Alec and Alan are soon exchanging lines during a superbly extended version of ‘
Limehouse Blues’. Christian recalls his father, Michael bringing him to The Stables, when he was just 8 years old, to meet Grappelli in his dressing room. That was 1979.
Moving on, he dedicates the next number ‘The folks who live on the hill’ to his Mother, who is in the audience this evening. The ‘home’ straight is 100% Grappelli with classics such as ‘
Avalon’, ‘Flamingo’ and ‘Nuage’. With another quartet project, a new album and future concert engagements with the likes of Jean Luc-Ponty, Christian Garrick is clearly one to
watch.
Set list: Ain’t Misbehavin’; Crazy Rhythm; Barbados; Between; Here, there and everywhere; Medley – Strike up the band / our love is here to stay; It don’t mean a thing; Limehouse Blues; The
folks who live on the hill; Avalon; Flamingo; Nuage; After you’ve gone. [Encore] Sweet Georgia Brown.
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