Steve was away, so I have the honour of writing about this amazing gig.
I do the sound for the gig and have no time to make notes. I asked our organist, Pete Whittaker if there was a set list. What he gave me was:
Now, “Custard” is “I’ve thrown a custard at her face”; or perhaps “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” (Loewe). “Wasser” is, I think, Yiddish for “Water From An Ancient Well” (Ibraham). “Braamz” is a stunning jazz take on the music of Schubert, “Brahms I Think”. A fuller set list can be found below.
Art deserves the word “amazing”. He drove from Henley, stood for the whole gig, and played like an angel, drove home. At 85. Well, actually, he had a birthday the day before the gig. I have never heard a crowd singing “Happy Birthday” so loudly and on the same key, with a few singing in harmony.
Art Themen played like a young man, with intensity and joy. His unmistakable warm tone carried the beautiful ballads. He can vary the tone from light warmth to growl. He does, I believe, hidden circular breathing for long phrases. We had a very varied and well-designed evening.
Art is a storyteller on the sax, and in his comments about the songs. He takes great pleasure in telling unflattering untruths about his colleagues. I doubt very much that Peter Whittaker ever played in a North Circular Road brothel. George Double retaliated with a convoluted tale about drummers having feelings, ending up in a plea to buy CDs.
Pete is a wonderful organist. His favourite format is the trio. In a trio, the thought connection between the musicians is so strong that the audience can feel it. I love his bass on the left hand; it is so varied and interesting.
George is a fine drummer. He was the best I have heard on this gig; again, the listening thing.
A good sized audience had a great time. Art mentioned at the end loving to play for a listening audience.
Steve will be back soon, so here is my attempt at a set list.
Take care,
Dave
Art Themen at 85: Set List
“Chili Peppers” (Duke Pearson)
“And What If I Don’t” (Herbie Hancock)
“Brahms . . . I Think” (Zoot Sims)
“Ballad of the Sad Young Men” (Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf)
“Groovy Samba” (Cannonball Adderley, Sergio Mendes)
“End of a Love Affair” (Edward Redding)
“Country” (Keith Jarrett)
“African Market Place” (Abdullah Ibraham)
******
“Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris)
“I’m an Old Cowhand” (Johnny Mercer)
“The Ruby and the Pearl” (Ray Evans)
“Cape Verdian Blues” (Horace Silver)
“Water from an Ancient Well” (Abdullah Ibraham)
“Hanky Panky” (Dexter Gordon)
Solos
“Ask Me Now” (Thelonious Monk); Art on his own
“Those Were The Days” (Boris Fomin)
Thank you Fleece
Have the pleasure of knowing Art when he was at Cambridge University studying Meds, but also playing in the local jazz venues.
He played many gigs with my brother Colin, who was a drummer who Art rated.
One thing I found out about Art was, when we were clapping or bagging saucepans for the NHS, Art stood on the door step of his home in Henley and serenading the neighbours and passer-bys. Typical of him.
Pleasure to meet him again on Wednesday.
Cheers
Trevor Edwards
Cambridge