JAZZ: The Steve Fishwick Sextet at Sheffield Millenium Hall
The Steve Fishwick Sextet
Sheffield Millenium Hall
Highly rated UK trumpeter Steve Fishwick and his sharp front-line partner Welsh sax tenorist Osian Roberts, plus three of New York's finest in baritone sax player Frank Basile, pianist Jeb Paton and bassist Mike Karn, along with in-demand drummer Matt Fishwick, have teamed up for a really hard bop sound.
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Hide AdFishwick insists the band are the Steve Fishwick-Osian Roberts-Frank Basile sextet, but that would also be harsh on the contributions of Karn and Steve’s twin brother Matt.
Self-styled latter-day Jazz Messengers, the first set opens with Steve Fishwick’s original Jymie, dedicated to former Messenger Jymie Merritt, while we also get two beautiful compositions that Roberts wrote for each of his two daughters.
The band, all in sharp suits and slim ties, look the part and the retro feeling is clear in their passion for the jazz of the 1950s and 60s and in particular the Blakey tradition.
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Hide AdHard bop fans will love the respect for the style and they carry off a nice line in self-deprecating humour and a likeable modesty in their highly-skilled playing.
The Basile-arranged My Blue Heaven, featured on their new album In The Empire State, is pure joy before the second half comes to a splendid close.