The Big Bang lived up to its reputation last night. What a stupendous gig, all three played out of their heads. Simon Spillett steeped in British jazz, John Critchinson, keyboard legend, and Oxford bass player Paul Jeffries kept it swinging all night. Two varied sets with wonderful ballads such as "Weaver of Dreams", Tubby Hayes composition "Off the Wagon", and they closed the second set with a blistering version of "Cherokee", which John Critchinson obviously enjoyed immensely. Simon Spillett's playing has grown in stature over the last few years, now not a mere Tubby Hayes impersonator, if he ever was as some critics implied; he is now a formidable talent of world class.
Would Dexter Gordon have sounded as he did if it wasn't for Lester Young? Great jazz musicians learn from the past masters and build their own style from that foundation. The Big Bang are to be applauded for bringing musicians of this calibre to Oxford. Long may they continue to do so.
Would Dexter Gordon have sounded as he did if it wasn't for Lester Young? Great jazz musicians learn from the past masters and build their own style from that foundation. The Big Bang are to be applauded for bringing musicians of this calibre to Oxford. Long may they continue to do so.