Guildhall Jazz Orchestra, Guildhall Jazz Singers, directed by Scott Stroman
Guildhall Jazz Percussion Ensemble, directed by Adriano Adewale & Ines Loubet
Silk Street Concert Hall. 28 June 2024
“To celebrate four decades of jazz at Guildhall is to celebrate Scott Stroman”, said Dr Jo Lawry, the recently appointed head of jazz at Guildhall in her very well crafted introduction to an emotional concert packed with memories.
One individual present in the audience received special praise: Leslie East, in his role as Director of Music at the School from 1976 to 1987 was the person responsible for conceiving of the idea to found a jazz department with Scott Stroman running it in the early 1980s. He had argued the case for it with the powers-that-were, presumably in the face of scepticism… and made it happen. The early days had required ingenuity and determination, for example some delicate footwork to ensure visas for Stroman himself and later for department stalwart (and legend) Jean Toussaint. Both applications were successful and the seeds of the department were sown.
In addition to the anecdotes from those early days, what came through strongly in the fascinating stories which Scott Stroman told, and linked to the music we heard, is a particular spirit of openness and collaboration, and of the experimental workshop which staff and students adopt as their way of being. Stroman talked of the joy of being able “ to share ideas, to try them out, to let the music evolve and breathe.” The anything-can-happen experimental vocal episode in Kenny Wheeler’s “Little Suite” showed us this unfettered spirit in action.
He also talked of a strong feeling of connection with the Silk Street Concert Hall, “a pleasant and friendly room”, a “place for us all to grow,” evoking the spirit of some of the jazz greats who have worked in the hall with students: for example Rufus Reid, Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone.
Through the music we heard, the sense of continuity and of deeply felt community spirit shone through. What Jo Lawry had talked of as the “camaraderie and support” she had witnessed when attending almost all of the students’ final recitals was much in evidence in the performance. The looks of encouragement which the singers were giving each other were something very heartening, particularly in the centrepiece of the first half, singer/ current student Emily Kent’s arrangement of Pat Metheny’s “Always and Forever”. And these are not purposeless gestures: I am convinced that the mutual encouragement and support allowed the flow and continuity, development and shape of this new piece to really assert itself.
The second half was a newly-commissioned five-movement suite for jazz orchestra and voices by Scott Stroman. Its beautiful emotional heart was the third of its five movements, and the core of that was a deeply affecting solo by Guildhall alumnus Oli Rath on the instrument with which Stroman first made his mark, the trombone.
Forty-year olds (one hopes) tend to know who they are. Guildhall School’s jazz department – with Scott Stroman in the role of custodian of its collective memory, and with Jo Lawry as, clearly, a very effective director – showed both its essence and purpose impressively and affectingly. And also gave us, a lucky and appreciative full house of listeners, a very satisfying concert.
PROGRAMME
Scott Stroman Chanobop
Pat Metheny/Emily Kent Always and Forever
Kenny Wheeler Little Suite
INTERVAL
Scott Stroman From Earth to Sky (a suite for Mary/ Premiere performance)
I. Beginning
II. Ev’ry New Day
III. Mary’s Song
IV. Waltz of the Lambs
V. Among the Stars
PERSONNEL:
Guildhall Jazz Orchestra
Woodwinds/saxes: Jack Devonshire, Harris Dakin, John Alcock, Bror Havnes, Emily Masser, Mick Foster
Trumpets: Sandy Watkin, Sidney Moon, Jack Ross (Guildhall Alum), Ed Hogben
Trombones: Oli Rath (Guildhall Alum), Leon Middleton, Max Lawrence, Josh Brierley, Alex Froggatt
Tuba: Sean Byrne
Guitar: Joe Garland-Johnston
Piano: Lior Solomons-Wise, Will Inscoe
Bass: Murray Dare
Drums: Anmol Mohara, Aaron Carpenter
Vibraphone/Percussion: Micah Baker
Guildhall Jazz Singers
Soprano: Alex Moss, Emily Kent
Alto: Martha Abrahamson-Ball, Issy Owen
Bass: Evie Atkin, Will Inscoe
Guildhall Jazz Percussion Ensemble
Inês Loubet, Angel Wong, Oskar Jones, Vicki Munn
