Lee and McNeill

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 8

Lee and McNeill

Julian Lee and Malcolm McNeill, in association with Jazz South, at the Teachers’ College auditorium, June 3, 8 p.m. Reviewed by Paul Goodson. The Teachers’ College auditorium provides an ideal venue for jazz and light music concerts. The spacious area in front of the raised stage dissolves into tiered seating, so that no artificial barrier is imposed between performers and audience. A hall which is wide rather than deep also fosters a sense of intimacy and involvement particularly suited to this style of music. It was immediately apparent when Julian Lee played a few notes that he was a highly accomplished jazz keyboard artist. His playing was supple yet rhythmically precise, and provided the real focus for improvisatory freedom and ingenuity within the instrumental trio Although undemonstrative in manner his understated command provided a marvellously creative springboard for his co-Performers — Roger Sellers (percussion) and Paul Dyne (bass). InJdalcolm McNeill he feund a partner imose obviously high regard for the

pianist’s musicianship seemed, in turn, to spur him on to equally polished artistry. Whether it was the poised yet deeply felt wonderment of “Sophisticated Lady,” the gentle irony in “Everything Happens to Me,” or the perky optimism of “Give Me the Simple Life,” both McNeill and Lee seemed to pace each other’s turns and moods as if by instinct. There was plenty of opportunity for Sellers and Dyne to exhibit their talents but it was the sensitivity and judgment of Lee which impressed the most. But all four performers combined with great verve in an upbeat version of “The Way You Look Tonight,” which held a breathless urgency very different from the yearning melodicism of the original. “The Sunny Side of the Street,” too, was imbued with a nicely .judged sense of joie de vivre. Tom van Koeverden had the unenviable task of opening the concert. He has a pleasant, passive manner, but both his vocal and instrumental capabilities move within too narrow an expressive and dynamic compass to ofXnmunicate with any real vitality or conviction.