JLU 6.vi.11 Twos in The Tub

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Duos from Bath Festival

Two by Two, Jazz Line-Up presents a duo double bill with the best in British Jazz. To begin, the duo of virtuoso guitarist John Etheridge and pianist John Horler deliver the finest in lyricism and free-thinking creativity. The celebrated pairing of Andy Sheppard and regular collaborator John Parricelli showcases the inventiveness and versatility off two outstanding jazz musicians. Essential late night jazz.

[hackneyvi]

Just finished listening to the first half with Johns Etheridge and Horley, neither of whom I'd heard before.

They didn't strike me as a natural duo or was it the recording? I liked Horley's piano initially but as it went on, it didn't seem entirely sympathetic to Etheridge's sometimes gorgeously gentle and dignified guitar.

At the end of the first track, I had the impression of Etheridge's diwndling music as a small creature coming to rest in the water of a sea shore. But Horley crashed over it with several heavy waves that more or less removed it from view.

I was reminded me of SAs remark a week or two ago about leaving space in a piece and I sometimes wished Horley would quiet down or even shut up. There were similar instancess throughout the concert and Horley's solo piece left me cold.

Intrigued by Etheridge, though, and look forward to hearing more from him.

[Serial_Apologist]

Just finished listening to the first half with Johns Etheridge and Horley, neither of whom I'd heard before.

They didn't strike me as a natural duo or was it the recording? I liked Horley's piano initially but as it went on, it didn't seem entirely sympathetic to Etheridge's sometimes gorgeously gentle and dignified guitar.

At the end of the first track, I had the impression of Etheridge's diwndling music as a small creature coming to rest in the water of a sea shore. But Horley crashed over it with several heavy waves that more or less removed it from view.

I was reminded me of SAs remark a week or two ago about leaving space in a piece and I sometimes wished Horley would quiet down or even shut up. There were similar instancess throughout the concert and Horley's solo piece left me cold.

Intrigued by Etheridge, though, and look forward to hearing more from him.

My description of John HorLER's playing would be "muscular Bill Evans", and though true that John Etheridge's playing was less forthright than we usually come to expect, I enjoyed this duo. I think Mr Horler decided as the main part of his strategy to "get in there first".

What did you think of the Parricelli/Sheppard set, Hackneyvi? Pretty, but with not much happening??

S-A

[hackneyvi]

I'm listening to the Johns again but feel pretty much the same. (Who the hell am I to say they're) clearly two fine musicians but in places the piano does seem (slightly) to be at war with the guitar. Maybe Etheridge was being deferential? Maybe the mix was off but ...

Horler's solo piece still struck me as a slightly muddy wander.

I came back to the Johns after listening to the first two Parricelli/Sheppard numbers. Things should be judged on their own merits but the superior quality of melody from the Johns was the immediate, outstanding difference in the musicians to me. Parricelli/Sheppard sounded like a pleasant but whiffling couple of buskers where the Johns did play some music of heart and interest. They laughed where P/S smiled mildly.

I've just reached Etheridge's solo spot (Goodbye Pork Pie Hat) and his self-accompaniment is a lovely blend of soft, uneasy atmospherics and virtuosity. This and their opener, Gentle Rain, were my favourite pieces in the programme.

[hackneyvi]

I've just reached Etheridge's solo spot (Goodbye Pork Pie Hat) and his self-accompaniment is a lovely blend of soft, uneasy atmospherics and virtuosity. This and their opener, Gentle Rain, were my favourite pieces in the programme.

One small puzzle. Is Etheridge fading himself out?

[Serial_Apologist]

One small puzzle. Is Etheridge fading himself out?

In what sense? Quitting jazz?

[hackneyvi]

In what sense? Quitting jazz?

Oh, no. I mean that his guitar simply fades out on the Goodbye Pork track and I noticed it do the same thing on at least one other. I've never heard a live musician do that. It doesn't - to my ears - sound as though he plays progressively more quietly and stops; it sounds to me as though the sound is faded as he's playing.

Maybe I'm wrong or this is commonplace but it surprised me.