Perth tenor saxophonist Helena impresses at fest
The National Trust for Scotland is on the lookout for volunteers to help its Tayside conservation group this summer.
Members of the Tayside branch of the trust are working on a number of conservation projects throughout the summer season, including their North Perthshire Properties project.
The North Perthshire Properties project is looking for volunteers to help assist rangers with habitat management and footpath maintenance, with the opportunity to participate in their charcoal-making projects. The work for volunteers on this project is expected to be of a demanding level.
The first of the North Perthshire volunteering days is Saturday, July 8, with additional sessions later in the summer on Saturday, August 5 and Saturday, August 19.
Those wishing to sign up as volunteers with the Tayside Conservation group must register with the National Trust for Scotland, including a £25 registration fee at least one week before the project day. Registration forms can be given to Tayside volunteers chairperson Rob Dey on 07875879354. An excellent thing that the Perth Festival Committee does is to offer a showcase concert to local talent.
And it was much appreciated by the many who came to this new festival venue, St Matthew’s Church.
You could have no-one more local than tenor saxophonist Helena Kay, who grew up in Perth.
Graduating from the Guildhall School of Music in 2016 with first class honours she gained the prize for highest jazz final recital mark.
Further she was Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2015.
Her partner and equal was pianist Peter Johnstone, already prominent in UK Jazz circles and much in demand in Scotland for his talents in improvisation – the centre and heart of all the works played this Saturday.
Not to be outdone Peter was Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, but in 2012.
Fascinating was the contribution Helena Kay had made herself to the programme: four out of the eight works, including Speakey – named for a teacher at the Guildhall – which had the most inspiring performance of the set.
Strawberry Terrace, Feijões and Mini Max V, which ended the programme, all showed varied inventive talent.
Peter Johnstone also contributed Days End, starting crepuscular and mellow, becoming more rhythmically lively and boldly declamatory before suitably fading.
Standards given a new twist were Cole Porter’s It’s All Right With Me; Jimmy McHugh’s version of I’m In The Mood For Love and, when the pair were recalled for an encore, Greater Love. Helena Kay played at St Matthew’s Church as part of the festival of the arts
The National Trust for Scotland looks after the site