The First Touch

What an opportunity !
On the suggestion of Maciej Karlowski, percussionist Ramón López invited me to play in Lublin Jazz Festival. From a list of great musicians who might join us to form a trio the name of Trevor Watts was one that immediately excited me for quite a few reasons: Firstly, he along with John Stevens , Paul Rutherford , Evan Parker and Derek Bailey allowed me as a novice to enter into the rarified world of The Spontaneous Music Ensemble. I was a total greenhorn in free improvisation, but all of the members encouraged and creatively criticised my engagement within a newly expanding language.
Secondly, Trevor became a guiding light and astonishingly original saxophonist building a musical vocabulary that was colourful, disciplined and emotionally deep.

As I mentioned, he was a guiding light – so much so he became one of the first of many brilliant musicians to lay the foundations for the unique sound of my London Jazz Composers Orchestra (LJCO). Later on , the Barry Guy New Orchestra (BGNO) – a slightly smaller formation presented his unique voice in a more chamber music concept. So, the linearity was intact for many years, but as freewheeling spirits we followed different avenues of expression and creativity. Memories of ecstatic concerts with John Stevens and Trevor at the Plough Pub in South London came flooding back (and the vinyl albums on Spotlite : No Fear (1977) and Application, Interaction And… (1978)

Ramón López emerged in my musical life when Agustí Fernández formed the Aurora trio together with us in 2006. He is also a founder member of my Blue Shroud Band where his energetic and colourful playing is a constant source of inspiration. He possesses a driving fluidity in his playing that is always sensitive and responsive. So I was delighted and full of positive anticipation to play with these two great musicians.

As Steve Lake wrote in the liner notes to No Fear “Trevor’s solos – bloody, bold and resolute , never less than inspired….”, so add Ramón López to that observation and the listener might gain a sense of the musical fireworks that emerged on the Lublin Stage. As the bassist in this unit, I can only say that the interaction was mesmerizing and full of exciting challenges.