Warren Vache and the Scottish Ensemble @ The Hub, 4th August
Vache does not stretch the boundaries, but his academic approach yields a pleasing mixture of relaxed and ferocious.<br/>
| 14 Aug 2006
Warren Vache's collaboration with Glasgow's Scottish Ensemble orchestrated popular American tunes to discover a lush, swooning grace. This concert, reuniting the artists, showcases Vache as arranger, band-leader and improviser.
Backed by the Ensemble's strings and solid Scottish rhythm section, Vache alternates between note perfect renditions of the album and improvisations, moving from jazz standards to Coltrane's experimentation. Some orchestrations are tame, but his work-outs are lively, driven by Brian Kellock's piano to express lyrical tenderness alongside joyous abandon.
Vache's trumpet playing is faultless: he shows respect for his musicians and audience, whether extemporising humorous blues or finding the pathos for a film's theme. He is comfortable leading the band and allowing the strings to take the spotlight; he mixes tempo and mood to moving effect. He creates a smoky, mellow intimacy.
If the arrangements are sometimes bland and his vocals lack passion, the programming of Classical interludes and wild soloing builds the set to a melancholic yet rousing finale. Vache does not stretch the boundaries, but his academic approach yields a pleasing mixture of relaxed and ferocious.
Backed by the Ensemble's strings and solid Scottish rhythm section, Vache alternates between note perfect renditions of the album and improvisations, moving from jazz standards to Coltrane's experimentation. Some orchestrations are tame, but his work-outs are lively, driven by Brian Kellock's piano to express lyrical tenderness alongside joyous abandon.
Vache's trumpet playing is faultless: he shows respect for his musicians and audience, whether extemporising humorous blues or finding the pathos for a film's theme. He is comfortable leading the band and allowing the strings to take the spotlight; he mixes tempo and mood to moving effect. He creates a smoky, mellow intimacy.
If the arrangements are sometimes bland and his vocals lack passion, the programming of Classical interludes and wild soloing builds the set to a melancholic yet rousing finale. Vache does not stretch the boundaries, but his academic approach yields a pleasing mixture of relaxed and ferocious.