Julian Siegel jazz orchestra to hit the road

Cast your minds back to the tough very brassy 'Blues' a track that introduced Tales From The Jacquard (Whirlwind, 2021), Julian ''Wiggy'' Siegel's hard blowing big band work formed around a ''Jacquard suite'' (a Jacquard machine involving punched cards is used in lace making machines) on which the tenor saxophonist was joined by his jazz orchestra.

Recorded in 2017 in Nottingham, London based Julian's childhood hometown, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, the now 56-year-old player also featured on Doncastrian Mahavishnu Orchestra legend John McLaughlin's 2021 album Liberation Time.

julian-siegel-full

With tunes by Siegel tour personnel for the Jacquard tour in early-2023 is looking like Nick Smart, conducting, Mark Knopfler player Tom Walsh, Percy Pursglove, Henry Lowther, Claus Stötter in the trumpet section; Mike Chillingworth with Nathaniel Facey and John O'Gallagher on selected dates, Siegel himself, Stan Sulzmann, Tori Freestone and Gemma Moore in the sax section; Mark Nightingale, Trevor Mires, Harry Brown, Richard Henry (doubling tuba) in the trombone constellation; Mike Outram, guitar; Liam Noble selected dates, Ross Stanley selected dates, piano; Oli Hayhurst bass and the legendary Gene Calderazzo - brother of Branford Marsalis Quartet pianist Joey - on drums from the now disbanded four-piece Partisans that Siegel co-led with guitarist Phil Robson.

Dates are Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 7 February; Turner Sims, Southampton, 9 Feb; Crookes Social Club, Sheffield, 10 Feb; Deda, Derby, 11 Feb; Ronnie Scott's, Soho, 12 Feb. Julian Siegel, top. Photo: press

Tags:

Slurping up spaghetti for breakfast there's a zaniness thumpingly led by Leeds scenester bassist Fergus Quill on 'Boris Hates Jazz… And That Suits Us Just Fine' as the trio slalom in and out. 'Mayville Six' stopped me in my tracks - Nico Widdowson playing a crappy piano very well. When the track goes anarchic towards the end it gets even more interesting. Widdowson continues his Bud Powell-like approach on the uptempo bebopiness of 'Cat Scran' - close your eyes and the trio could be in a W. Eugene Smith photograph. They are not bothered about levelling oop north anything but upping sticks to climb the stairs up to some Sixth Avenue loft in the 1950s they seem to be hankering for instead. The bass leader begins 'Sun Dream' on his tod. Quill's technique recalls the peaks achieved by Welsh wiz Huw V. Williams a bit circa Hon. 'Once Upon a Time in the North' is the best piece. The vocals sprinkled about are OK. Drummer Theo Goss is stimulating most on the quick canter that Goss cooks up on 'Tune for Ennio'. Overall as fun and as satisfying as a clerihew. ('It was rather disconcerting for Hannibal/When he was introduced to a cannibal/Who expressed the very highest opinion/Of cold pickled Carthaginian' - a particular favourite). Beyond all distracting whimsy, a trio to stuff your face on Panettone to and hear live - pronto. SG

Julian Siegel jazz orchestra to hit the road

The Fergus Quill trio, ¡Blamo!, Tight Lines ***1/2