Watching Peter King before a gig I always get the distinct impression that he would rather be somewhere else. He ambles about the stage in a melancholic and disinterested fashion, his whole body language must be a PR man’s nightmare. However, as Sunday evening’s capacity audience at the Chapel at No.1, Shakespeare Street will testify, once the alto saxophone is on lips he is transformed into a most energetic, captivating and inventive giant of the jazz scene who gives 100%. He did not even feel the need to warm up as he strode into a demanding opening number, Chic Corea’s “Inner Space”, with such fire and intensity that the audience quickly realised this was a truly special evening.

The profound influence of Charlie Parker is evident throughout his performance and over the years jazz fans have heralded him as Britains Charlie Parker. Peter has often said, “I spent over 30 years trying to play like Bird and the rest of the time trying not to play like Bird”. It is difficult to imagine any modern jazz saxophonist not being influenced by Parker, indeed the great Sonny Stitt was so fed up being tagged as a Parker clone that he switched from alto to tenor saxophone. Although Peter played tenor in his early Dankworth days he has never felt the urge to major away from alto, his music has not stood still and today he is revered as a composer of some stature.

Peter has assembled a quartet of some quality with the sublime Steve Melling on keys, Geoff Gascoyne on bass and Mark Fletcher on drums, not only giving admirable support to Peter but also contributing with creative and exciting solo work.
It is difficult to pick out a highlight on such a memorable evening but if pressed it    would be a close thing between Peter’s tribute to John Coltrane on “The World of Trane” and his solo on Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” which demonstrated not only his passion for the music but also his astonishing technique.

Next Sunday Stratford Jazz at the Chapel at No.1, Shakespeare Street presents the Killer Shrimp Quartet. This young band, led by two stalwarts of British jazz in Damon Brown on trumpet and Ed Jones on saxophone, is presently taking the jazz world by storm. The performance commences at 8pm and a charge of £8 will be made at the door. For more info visit www.stratfordjazz.org.uk.

Roy Stevens                                                                                             22/11/10.

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