Sumptuous saxophone with strings
Charlie Parker with Strings, directed by Rodger Fox, Globe Theatre, Palmerston North, Wednesday April 16. Reviewed by Malcolm Hopwood.
Rodger Fox strode on to the Globe stage, cleaned his glasses and then directed one of the most impressive jazz concerts to come to Palmerston North in recent years.
Charlie Parker with Strings celebrated the 70th anniversary of a landmark recording the jazz legend incubated with his own musicians and string section. Many have recreated the American Song Book, but Parker improvised it, blew the dust off and gave the songs new direction and meaning.
Fox’s magnet attracted a quality combo: New York musician Dick Oatts on saxophone and the New Zealand String Quartet. Their reputation went before them as they played to a capacity audience on Tuesday night.
Oatts moulded himself into the saxophone like an inverted banana and gave a masterclass of music. He could belt bebop as assuredly as easing into East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon and Gershwin’s immortal classic, Summertime. His duetting with Fox was precise, like two old friends coming together yet again. They had the lustre of burnished Jack Daniels in their sound.
Oatts probably blew more notes than those pasted on the Berlin Wall. Despite that, his playing was fresh and effortless. Other highlights included Star Rise, I’m In The Mood For Love and Data Entry Groove, written by Natalie Hunt, who was nurtured in Palmerston North. It was the String Quartet’s stellar set and they didn’t disappoint.
Dan Hales on the piano was unassuming yet creative – his contribution was more than accompanying. His arrangements can go all the way to Monterey. Fox proved as at home in directing classical strings as enjoying the mayhem of improvisation.
Sometimes the supporting musicians were expressionless and showed little joy, yet there was so much to be joyful about. Jazz has arrived and Charlie Parker was the entree for the International Jazz Festival at Queen’s Birthday Weekend.