Happy 75th Birthday Stan Sulzmann! Today, 30 November, as we publish this review, is the actual day.
“Every single one of us has looked up to Stan,” said Nick Smart, who was conducting the Neon Orchestra on Tuesday at Watermill Jazz, summing up what the occasion was all about: “He has been the musical North star for all of us…a tireless giver, always championing young musicians.”
That was the context of this concert: Stan is a pivotal figure in that he sets a particular tone in the community of British jazz musicians where support, giving and nurturing – together with aspiration/ expectation of sky-high standards – are the norm. (more birthday quotes below).
The concert had sold out quickly, and there was a real mood of anticipation in the room. Neon Orchestra is made up of great musicians from all generations, from fine young drummer Finn Genockey (grandson of Liam, drummer from Steeleye Span), in his early twenties, to the very great Henry Lowther, playing miraculously and unforgettably at 82.
The concert included the premiere of an absolutely glorious new piece. “Iain’s Peace Piece” rose from a modest opening to some of the most affirmative music for jazz orchestra I have ever heard. The Neon Orchestra players – topped out by an astonishing, gleaming trumpet section, welcome to heaven – gave their all. If the acid test on hearing new music is how soon one wants to hear it again, then there’s no doubt: I want to hear this piece again. And as soon and as often as possible. Stan, typically practical, down-to earth, “il miglior fabbro” as Dante would say, explained to me that it is fairly straightforward and in C major, crafted so that it can be played on very little rehearsal… but that is just one side of the story: this music is not just finely wrought, it also carries a huge emotional punch.
Perhaps it is unavoidable to feel music deeply on an occasion and in a context like this. “Iain’s Peace Piece” is dedicated to Iain, the husband of a key member of the Watermill Jazz team, Kathryn Shackleton. Ian suffers from increasingly severe Motor Neurone Disease; this was the first Watermill Jazz concert that Kathryn, as his primary carer, had been able to attend for over two years.
Watermill Jazz is about to celebrate thirty years of promoting. Its team of volunteers have a wonderful teamwork ethos and an eye for quality and detail. They function as an impressively well-honed unit. (Thank you for such a warm welcome and for loads of help in putting this piece together).
The rest of the programme mostly consists of pieces from Stan’s remarkable ‘extendable suite’ of jazz orchestra arrangements of tunes by British jazz composers. It really is, or should be a national monument. The writing is so beautiful and persuasive, with a cunning countermelody, an answer to every question lurking at every turn. Taking just one detail of thousands, the trombone melody which opens John Taylor’s “Between Moons”, as played by Trevor Mires, is a thing of wonder.
When Stan Sulzmann toured the Neon Orchestra for his 70th in 2018, we collected a few quotes. Here they are again:
“I know that if I just had to walk out and make music with someone, he’d be at the top of the list, the music is so heartfelt, it’s such a natural thing.” (Gwilym Simcock)
“Great writing, great playing, a great musician. He’s a fine example of a saxophonist who’s worked in many different spheres, an example to musicians on any instrument. It’s all about the music and his sound, and also about how much support he’s given to all us other musicians.” (Julian Siegel)
“UK saxophonist Stan Sulzmann could have lost his own musical personality in a three-decade career of showing he could play anything for anybody, at any tempo, with preparation you could write on a postage stamp. Instead, he found an authoritative voice late in the game, and became one of the British scene’s real interpretative individuals. “ (John Fordham)
Happy Birthday Stan and thank you for constant inspiration.

NEON ORCHESTRA
Saxes: Martin Hathaway, Matt Sulzmann, Tom Barford, Pete Hurt. James Allsopp
Trumpets: Tom Walsh, George Hogg, Henry Lowther, Robbie Robson
Trombones: Trevor Mires, Harry Maund, Olli Martin, Sarah Williams
Rhythm: Will Barry, Dave Whitford, Finn Genocky.
Guitar: Alex Munk
Vibes: Jonny Mansfield
Accordion on “Ian’s Peace Piece” and Piano on “Westerly”: Nikki Iles
Conductor: Nick Smart
SET LIST. All arrangements by Stan Sulzmann. Original composers’ names in brackets
1- CHU CHU (Sulzmann)
2 – FREE COFFEE (Sulzmann)
3 – BETWEEN MOONS (John Taylor)
4 – NOBODY ELSE BUT ME (Kern/ Hammerstein)
5 – ALFREDO (Parricelli)
2nd set
1 – WESTERLY (Nikki Iles)
2 – IAIN’S PEACE PIECE (Sulzmann)
3 – RE CEDAR (Iain Ballamy)
4 – YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN (Bacharach)
