Review: Saxophonist Andy Shillingford's fine organ trio - and quartet - at Lichfield Jazz event
In the jazz world, an “organ trio” does not mean three organists performing together. It usually means one saxophonist - or occasionally a guitarist - with one organist and a drummer.
The combination can be very exciting, producing a sound full of musical colour and powerful driving rhythms.
That was certainly the case when saxophonist Andy Shillingford teamed up with keyboards player John Evans and drummer Mal Garrett for a session promoted by Lichfield Jazz at the Cathedral Hotel.
And there was an added bonus when the very fine guitarist Tom Morgan - one of the organisers of the Lichfield Jazz group - joined the trio to make a quartet.
Before Shillingford began his first set, the rhythm section quickly got into swinging form with tunes including the standard song There Will Never Be Another You and pianist Thelonious Monk’s jazz classic, Blue Monk.
The saxophonist opened his own performance with another popular jazz standard, On Green Dolphin Street, with Garrett driving the latin beat firmly, and Evans mainly playing the electric piano perched under the organ on his keyboards stack, while running a convincing bass line on the organ’s footpedals.
Another fine latin rhythm choice was the song Old Devil Moon, and Shillingford delivered an exquisite ballad, Lover Man, with poise and great feeling.
It was unfortunate that the Cathedral Hotel session clashed with another jazz performance at the city’s Garrick Theatre, somewhat depleting audience numbers.
But the Lichfield Jazz sessions at the hotel continue next month, and a Jazz Weekend is taking place at the Hub At St Mary’s arts centre from June 5-7, with a host of bands.
