Warren Vache jazz

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 4

Warren Vache jazz

Jazz Concert featuring Warren Vache, trumpet and cornet, with the Doug Caldwell Trio, at the Cotton Club last evening. Reviewed by Allan Francis.

The feast of mainstream jazz continued last evening with the Jazz South Concert and Warren Vache providing another

exciting evening. Success seems now almost guaranteed from the flow of topclass personnel from the Concord Company of California combined with the ' accomplished support of the Doug Caldwell Trio. More than ever, the magic of the performance matched that of previous occasions, proving that this unique quality was . still one of the most powerful instruments in the competitive world of jazz and endorsing the faith of the sponsors. \ As with Bobby Hackett, Joe Newman and Ruby Braff, \ Warren Vache opted for the gruff-toned comet which also pnM duc<l the singularly elo- j quent melody line (there ’

were shades of Louie as well), at times skipping blithely through choruses of brass figures yet equally masterful in the slower tunes. The group moved briskly into the opening

“Just, Just Me” contrasting with the most risky venture in jazz, the waltz, Johnny Mandel’s “Emaline.”

The great resonance of Andy Brown’s acoustic bass and the sparkling percussive beat of Frank Gibson’s drums assured the front line of the best possible support — at times giving solos of urgency and flair. Vache gave the nod to one of his mentors, Benny Goodman, with “Stomping at the Savoy” yet managed, as always, to avoid any direct quotes. Old tunes they may have been, like “More Than You Know,” “I Hadn’t Anyone Till You,” “Skylark,” but the treatment was fresh and the ensemble totally convincing. Doug Caldwell (highlighted those slow

numbers stylishly and with immense poetry, numbers such as “Darn That Dream” and “I Can’t Get Started,” where Vache himself explored new heights with breathtaking skill. Duke Ellington might have welcomed yet another variation to his “A Train” and in the end applauded the group for finding still unexplored territory, with Gibson and Brown swapping ideas and tempos in ruthless fashion. Vache powered through it in spite of physical discomfort from harsh climate changes, never giving way until it was all over.

Ecstatic superlatives flowed easily in the long interval and after the performance. If the point was to show the wealth of material available in “old tunes and small groups” the quartet proved the issue beyond doubt last evening, and none more so. than the generous trumpok player who delighted his audience and colleagaes alike.