Appearances in London by Billy Childs are rare, so his presence last night at Milton Court was reason enough to head out and hear him. The California pianist/composer was the star of a big and fascinatingly complex project, the whole venture inspiringly directed with finesse, persuasiveness and sheer class by Nikki Iles.
The centrepiece was a selection of six of Jim McNeely’s beautifully crafted jazz orchestra arrangements of Billy Childs’s 2014 album Map To The Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro. This video tells the story of the album. Map…, the original album, has a dauntingly stellar cast of singers, and what was impressive was quite how confident, bold and empowered all three of the Guildhall singers – Angel Wong, Erin Bradley and Tiger-Lily Jonathan, coached and mentored for the concert by Jo Lawry and Clare Wheeler – were as they stepped out in front of the full big band. Filling the shoes of Alison Krauss cannot be simple, but that is exactly what Tiger-Lily Jonathan did, and with panache, in a glorious, energised And When I Die, the closing number of the first half.
There were other delights too: Billy Childs’s solo piano feature In Carson’s Eyes was an immersive and orchestral kaleidoscope of counterpoint. In the second half opener, the whole orchestra seemed to overcome some vertiginous rhythmic switchbacks, and the end of the piece was met with vociferous cheers. This number certainly lived up to its title – which could indeed have been a strap-line for the whole evening – Rejoice!
FIRST SET
Maybe Later by Billy Childs orchestrated by Jim McNeely
Dreams by Billy Childs
The Confession by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
Been on a Train by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
And When I Die by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
SECOND SET
Rejoice by Billy Childs
In Carson’s Eyes (piano solo) Billy Childs
Gibsom Street by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
New York Tendaberry by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
Stoned Soul Picnic by Laura Nyro arranged by Billy Childs, orchestrated by Jim McNeely
Guildhall Jazz Orchestra
Voice: Angel Wong, Erin Bradley, Tiger-Lily Jonathan
Saxes: Sophus Bech, Tom Townsend, Max Barnard , Tommy Lynch, Alex Wardill (bass clarinet)
Trumpet: Luke Lane, Carmen Llena Perez, Sidney Moon, Benny Tayler, Louis Gascoyne
Trombones: Cat Eden, Helena Kieser, Matt Cooper, Alex Froggatt (bass trombone)
Guitar: Maddy Salter
Piano: Lior Solomons-Wise, Martina Petrova
Bass: Ed Le Feuvre, James Leaver-Whitfield
Drums: Lester Ridout
Vibraphone: Finn Genockey
