Mihaly Borbely - Transylvanian Taragoto

Mihaly Borbely - Táragotó

While most birds fly south for the winter there was one rare specimen which landed at Twickenham Jazz Club last week (16/10/2014). The sighting of Mihaly Borbely wouldn't have excited many jazz twitchers but by the end of his performance the audience proudly displayed a new feather in their caps. Borbely is a talented multi-instrumentalist who was recently voted "alto saxophonist of the year" in his native Hungary (JazzMa.hu Reader's Poll 2013).

Alex Hutton - piano

Strong, crisp and clear was his first call. The lyrical came later, as Mihaly Borbely navigated his way through a set dominated by standards. The trio that surrounded him were Alex Hutton (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Matt Fishwick (drums). Mihaly was the continuous subtle presence throughout the night. Yes, there were moment of virtuosity but showing off wasn't the raison d'etre for the man dressed in beige who stood before us.

Dave Green - Bass

Alex Hutton surprised and excelled all night. He was light and high of energy. Here is a man who is in love with life and creativity. There is always an intensity in his gaze and quite possibly his finger tips. Sometimes you fear this desire will drag him down but when he takes flight, as he did tonight, he does so on an inspiring swell.

The bookend of the first set, 'Bye Bye Blackbird', saw a rich and confident Hutton roaring with expression. With boyish golden locks bouncing, head thrust back with cavalier pride, he delighted the Twickenham Jazz Club audience. Always a favourite here, we gallivanted with his solos and danced with his daring. The reason for this positivity is that there is a new album on its way. Recently recorded with Asaf Sirkis and Yuri Goloubev, the central themes of the CD are embedded in the rich folk history of England.

Kelvin Christiane - Tenor Saxophone

It was a first entry in my sketchbook for Dave Green (bass) and exciting to capture Matt Fishwick (drums) once again. His last visit here being with New York altoist Mike DiRubbo in November 2013. Fishwick with a posture any super model would die for, was deliciously tight and unyielding on 'Caravan'. Direct might be the best way to describe his penetration. Between each steely thrust, Borbely danced an eastern odyssey. A romantic flow which erupted tiny geysers in the mind.

Matt Fishwick - drums

Between the alto breezes, Mihaly Borbely gave us the purity of his soprano on 'Round Midnight' and a delicate homage to Nature's beauty on Táragotó (Transylvania Blues). A TJC night wouldn't be complete without a fast-paced injection from Kelvin Christiane. This time John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' gave our host a chance to park his finesse and catapult the finale with force.

Although this a was night built on standards, it still had ambition. There was a technical sparkle that will see Mihaly Borbely return I expect to these shores and it will be interesting to see how he was received at his second British date (St Bartholomew's Church) with the Paul Busby Big Band.

AL.

Mike DiRubbo - London touchdown

Mike DiRubbo - Alto saxophone

Earlier this month Mike DiRubbo touched down upon these shores with a short exploratory tour. It was his first experience of London and a great opportunity to hear more from this Rising Star (Downbeat alto saxophone poll 2013) of New York City's jazz scene. I had the pleasure of meeting Mike when I had my first New York art exhibition along 14th street in 2011. As I was alone in the Manhattan he took me under his wing, and introduced me to many of New York's hot spots.

Kelvin Christiane -
Tenor Saxophone

Although he started at London's Jazz HQ, Ronnie Scotts, it wasn't until jetlag was dispelled and he had negotiated the intricacies of our public transport system that he really hit his straps. Two nights later (07/11/2013) we experienced the best of Mike DiRubbo along with Bill Mudge's Trio at the Twickenham Jazz Club. Rich in Italian heritage and dark looks his honeyed American drawl created a stir amongst the packed suburban crowd.

DiRubbo is a fluid player that needs to be teased into his most powerful performances and here at Twickenham Jazz Club he found an atmosphere that obviously suited him. It is a warm venue and the audience was bolstered by the Wembley wing of the DiRubbo azzurri. As we launched into "Skips Blues" I worked hard to capture the smokey eyes of our headliner, he is not a dominating frontman, but does take centre stage for long periods, taking us on extended expeditions into his compositions.

Rob Gray & Lister Park -
TJC Dudes

Bill Mudge as usual lurked in the gloom, he shirks the spotlight but I think he might have taken it too far as he peered intensely at the charts in the dark. I had not sketched him since May 2013 and he now sported a fuzzy winter beard like an arctic ferret, his beady eyes darting furiously. Third tune "Stellar by Starlight" just about summed up his predicament but it didn't set him back. By the fourth tune "Lilt" he was less Weasel more Sable, and his pelt shone with a soft shine of perspiration.

Matt Fishwick - Drums

Matt Fishwick had started the DiRubbo tour at Ronnie Scotts but it is hard to ascertain if he was up to speed or not. He is the steadiest of individuals, barely changing pace, his rosey cheeks might go from Amaranth to Crimson and his lips become a little wetter when really in the groove. He was the perfect foil for his American leader with his dead pan demeanour.

Peter S Smith & Dom Starkie

Kelvin Christiane enlivened the front of stage dynamics with a frisson between tenor and alto. The Twickenham crowd know and love him which provided a shot in the arm for regulars Rob Gray and Lister Park. In contrast none of us were familiar with Joe Downard on bass, and we did not know what to expect. Well, he was thrilling, skilful and immediately made an impression upon the regulars. In demeanour he hides behind a flick George Michael (circa 1980s) would be proud off and has a lean cheeked physique that is de rigueur amongst early career Londoners. As you know I am a jazz twitcher and try to identify a player's 'trigger', the movement or idiosyncrasy when they are totally in the zone. Downard's is his mouth, with an expressive tongue which pops out like the Whac-a-mole game in its rapidity and frequency.

Joe Downard - Bass

The tune of the night was seconder setter "Throwback" where Mike DiRubbo stretched clear, sweeping up the audience, tapping away with fingers, toes and heartbeats. Both Bill Mudge and Joe Downard excelled, the latter with hair flopping, drew his hirsute curtains and undressed an emotive solo which exposed the best in DiRubbo's composition.

We will be hearing more of Mike DiRubbo's writing in the coming months with a crowd-funding campaign in full swing, he'll be recording a new album in the New Year.
Check it out here. Until then we still had him at the heart of the UK's jazz scene for another week and it seemed the Twickenham crowd had given him the sort of welcome he deserved, generous and enthusiastic.

AL.

Ray Gelato - Bloomsbury's Top Cat

Ray Gelato - Top Cat

Like the phoenix rising from the flames, Ray Gelato resurrected the newly revived Twickenham Jazz Club last Thursday (24/01/2013) with a stellar night of swinging tunes. It's no surprise that Lesley and Kelvin Christiane chose Ray to kick-start the Club, he is the totem of the current swing revival and resurgence of 1950's values & tastes.

 Although he's been nominated for Jazz's highest awards he has never been a member of the Jazz Elite preferring to rub shoulders with us mere mortals. In fact that is part of his charm and he has retained his youthful vigour and humour throughout the years and most reminds me of the loveable Top Cat from Hanna-Barbera's animation. With his witty alley-cat jokes and roguish tom-cat charisma he had us all purring with delight by the end of the evening.



Kelvin Christiane - Saxophone

Ray Gelato's repertoire was pure unashamedly old-school with tunes by Count Basie (Doggin' Around & Topsy), Nat King Cole (The Frim-Fram Sauce), Jesse Greer (Just You Just Me) and Coleman Hawkins (body and soul).

The dark-suited and dapper Kelvin Christiane joined Gelato on stage for 'Robbins' Nest' and Duke's 'Cotton Tail'. Richard Busiakiewicz was very much an unassuming figure visually on keyboards, but more than stole the show musically once given his chance. He has a trance like zombie playing style, perfected by Bill Evans, with chin hung against his chest whilst deep in concentration.



Richard Busiakiewic - keys

It was good to get a proper look at Julian Bury on bass. The last time I'd drawn him was at Pizza Express for the Burton Bradstock CD launch, where you have to avoid strategically placed pillars and tomblike lighting to produce a sketch.
This was my first view of Matt Fishwick  (drums), although I have drawn his twin-brother Steve before. He has a sit-up-and-beg style with a beautifully straight back, and is a musician I would like to see and hear again.



Julian Bury - Bass

Matt Fishwick - drums

The jazz cats weren't restricted to the stage either and I spotted some very cool ones in the audience too.
There was a group of ruddy cheeked dudes whose 'Boss Cat' was the sleek Lister Park, with Colin and Andrew either side.

Lister park - Dude

I'll look forward to seeing them all on Valentine's Day, not for a romantic rendezvous, but to see Nigel Price playing at the next instalment of the Twickenham Jazz Club.

AL