Max thanks and thinks….
‘Thanks for Monday. Really cool set. A mention and pic at www.everysmith.com and also an interesting comment! The second one I think.’ Max (Wilde’s)
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‘Thanks for Monday. Really cool set. A mention and pic at www.everysmith.com and also an interesting comment! The second one I think.’ Max (Wilde’s)
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Sunday evening was a really memorable night for Interplay, as a lively crowd of music fans, friends, music scene movers and the simply curious packed into LAMP, Leamington’s Live Arts and Music Project, to share in the launch of the band’s new album ‘Global’. Steve Steinhaus was in the compere’s chair to move proceedings along and the band got swiftly down to business with the Cuban classic ‘Amor Verdadero’. After a reflective ‘Hermitage’ it was time for the first of the night’s original compositions, ‘Autumn Magic’, followed by an outstanding version of ‘Weightless’ featuring Alan Wakeman on soprano sax and Dave Balen in exceptional form on tablas. ‘Fashion Statement’ made for a complete mood shift, calling up some fine trombone from Richard Baker, before the band wrapped the set up with their north African-tinged version of ‘Imam’. For the second half opener ‘El Cuarto de Tula’ the entire audience was equipped with hand percussion, leading to a riotous rendition. ‘Shapeshift’ followed, with Neil Hunter building an exciting extended keyboard solo supported by the whole band. We then welcomed saxophonists Ray Hinks and Onno van Winden to sit in on ‘Su Baille Nuevo’, producing a spirited four-horn improvisation. ‘Slow Flame’, the evening’s deep ballad, really seemed to draw everyone in before ‘Swift Return’ and ‘The Shuffle’ brought the night to a celebratory climax. Thanks to everyone who helped to make the evening such a success! To the 100 or so souls who packed the venue and responded to our music with such warmth and enthusiasm, to all those who bought albums – over 40 were sold – and to all those who signed up to our mailing list. Not forgetting the crew at LAMP, Steve Steinhaus for mastering the ceremony, Rob Bridge our brilliant photographer, our lovely crew of helpers on the night, and all those nearest and dearest to the band who support us with their encouragement, patience and understanding. Without you all it could not happen! And to top it off there is a cracking review of the night and the album by Sundari Cleal of the Leamington Courier. Please check it out, and of course add any comments of your own – we’d love to have your feedback too!...
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Two years in the making ‘Global’, Interplay’s second album, is finally released on 21st October 2013 on Silvery Records (SRCD0065). Musical scents of Cuba, North Africa, India and elsewhere infuse the jazz-rooted repertoire, powered by the fine musicianship of Alan Wakeman, Richard Baker, Neil Hunter, Dave Balen and Adrian Litvinoff. To celebrate this milestone Interplay are having a special event at the Live Arts and Music Project (LAMP), Leamington’s newest and grooviest venue. Join us on Sunday 20th October at 8.00pm for music, drinks and good times to celebrate this milestone. Bring a horn or join in on percussion. Please follow the link http://tinyurl.com/o87z2ys and confirm your attendance. Even if you can’t make it, send us a message to read out on the...
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Here’s a short interview I did following our recent photoshoot for the band at LAMP in Leamington. You can also see some more great shots of the band taken by specialist music photographer Rob Bridge of Redwood Photography. Rob is well known for his work with indie bands – I think we were something of a challenge for him! The occasion also established beyond any doubt that Alan has the best wardrobe. Killer jacket! The interview reveals that a new Interplay web site is in development. That’s right! More information coming...
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This has been an exceptional weekend for Interplay and many other musicians in and around Coventry. The band delivered a storming set at Leamington’s venue LAMP, eliciting comments from the audience such as ‘My chin was on the floor’. This was despite a security alert on the M6 resulting in Neil being delayed by over 2 hours (I nearly said ‘detained’) and arriving just 15 mins before the scheduled start time. ‘Weightless’ (featuring Dave on tabla) and ‘Ruby My Dear’ (featuring Richard on trombone) attracted particular attention, as also did ‘Spanish Step’ – only our second time out with that one. There are some nice pictures of the gig at http://tinyurl.com/onl9keh Then it was time for the Coventry Jazz Festival, and a trio set with Alan and Neil at Playwrights, the festival’s spiritual home. This place has the smallest stage imaginable (hence it being a trio set), but the audience was really receptive and out for some good music. With the sun out and the doors open the music flew out along the street and all kinds of people came by to savour the music and the really festive atmosphere. After that I scooted across town to Blue Bistro which was already rammed in anticipation of hearing Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla – far from standard jazz festival fare, but a band with outstanding soloists and some jazzy grooves amid the traditional and fusion-based sounds. The next day I returned to Playwright’s for a SugarDaddies afternoon set. This was possibly more mellow than either of the previous day’s excursions, and by this stage in the Festival seemed to be just what many in the audience wanted. As with all good festivals, the intervening periods allowed some time to encounter some new music, and I was pleased to catch up with the Tim Bowes Trio and to hear the redoubtable Hayden Mathews Haynes in flying form. There was also a lot I didn’t get to that I would have wished to hear too. It is unsurprising and also gratifying that the Festival managed to present such a range of rewarding music with pretty much all local performers. This is a welcome contrast to the ‘big name’ syndrome that seems to predominate at many festivals, some of which increasingly seem to resemble each other. So, finally, a sincere vote of thanks to all the organisers and participating venues for putting themselves – and us – out there. Incidentally...
See MoreLeamington Spa’s favourite jazz singer Ellen Callender will join Interplay on Friday night at LAMP to furnish one or two of Adrian Litvinoff’s seldom-heard lyrics. Ellen is well known for her full-on performances with her own band the Swing Cats and for fronting the highly successful monthly Spa Jazz sessions at the Clarendon. The Interplay tunes are in something of a different vein, less great American song book, more abstract impressionism meets confessional whimsey. One of these is so unknown not even the band has heard it! It says a lot about Ellen that she has taken on this commission and we look forward very much to hearing her interpretations, adding to gaiety and the uniqueness of the occasion. For further details and reservations please...
See MoreIt’s almost four months since Interplay last played to a real live audience! Sign of the times I guess, with gigs becoming noticeably scarcer all around. So it is with real pleasure as well as a certain amount of relief that we announce our first appearance of 2012, next Wednesday March 14th in Leamington Spa for Leam Jazz. Besides affording us the pleasure of playing for its own sake I take a special pride in this particular gig as indirectly I can claim some responsibility for Leam Jazz getting started. The moving spirits, Stewart Duthie and John Hodgetts, originally met as members of my Jazz Workshop in 2008. Since then they have arranged vacation sessions for workshop participants, organised public jam sessions and, ably assisted by audio wiz Rob Sargent, presented some exciting and enjoyable jazz gigs over the last two years. Interplay was actually the first band Leam Jazz put on, back in May 2010, and it’s a true credit to them and their supporters that they are still at it two years later. So come along to Leamington Rugby Club, Kenilworth Road Leamington CV32 6RG on Wednesday 14th March. Tickets are only £6 and there is excellent beer to be found at club prices. bLA BLA...
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