A wonderful night of iconic jazz music played with immense skill.
In an impressive tribute to the legendary Dankworth Seven, core members of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Jazz Orchestra came together to commemorate their vibrant music and acknowledge their contributions to the 1950s jazz scene. As the evening unfolded, the audience became part of an impeccable display of immense skill, played with playfulness and poise.
The evening included a judiciously selected spread of songs composed by SirJohn Dankworth, leader of the Dankworth Seven, and aimed to capture the iconic spirit of the music. This aim was very much successful, as the well-curated spread took us on a journey of their essential works. Alec Dankworth, who directed and arranged most of the music for the evening, helpfully punctuated the musical performances with insights into the history of the Dankworth Seven and his father’s contributions to the jazz scene.
The pieces were played with delightful synchronisation, intensified by atmospheric lighting and rousing instrumental dynamics. Standout performances included alto saxophonist Benji O’Riordan in ‘Lover Man’, who charmed with smooth dulcet tones. Amena Elabd’s velvety vocals added grace and nostalgia to the well-known ‘Easy Living’.
The orchestra’s rendition of ‘The Slider’ especially bamboozled with seemingly endless layers of complex instrumentation. The drums, piano and bass, often overlooked in musical ensembles, had their time to shine and kept up an impressive, fast paced beat which felt it could have changed at any second. Often in direct conversation with each other, their creativity astonished, making unique and innovate sounds with the instruments.
What was most enjoyable was the fact that at every turn, the musicians were surrounded by a wealth of encouragement that rendered the evening with a contagious warmth. It was hard to believe that they were still in training, as they were playing to a very high caliber, clearly enjoying each other’s solos and delighting in all of the musical bells and whistles, as well as the effort of their peers.
The only drawback of the event was that at times the instruments overtook some of the vocals in volume, which made it hard to hear their contributions to the overall sound. The vocalists did well to keep going, however, and showed high levels of skill, keeping up with the constantly changing accompaniment.
The evening ended with an expert flourish and it was a lovely tribute to a group who have certainly earned their place in music history. A resounding well done to all involved.