BBC Young Musician winner Xhosa Cole brings quartet to Wolverhampton - review with pictures
The UK jazz scene abounds with superb young musicians, and among them one of the most talked-about is saxophonist Xhosa Cole - a BBC Young Musician winner - and he gave a powerful performance at a sold-out Newhampton Arts Centre (NAC).
The appearance of his quartet - on a 20-date national tour - was another scoop for the NAC and the promotional organisation Jazz In Wolverhampton.
Birmingham-born Cole, aged 22, began his musical journey in the Ladywood Community Music School, going on to hone his skills in the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Collective and the Jazzlines Ensemble.
His quartet is completed by three superb musicians: Canadian-born trumpeter Jay Phelps, bassist James Owston and drummer Jim Bashford.
They kicked off the concert with all guns blazing, in an intense version of the tune Zoltan, by American trumpet legend Woody Shaw, featuring complex interplay between Cole and trumpeter Phelps, and then slipping seamlessly into a rare gem composed by saxophonist Gigi Gryce, Salute To The Bandbox.
Cole’s tenor saxophone soloing is constantly inventive and impressively muscular, while Phelps has a stunning tone and a superb sense of both emotional drama and musical structure.
After the fiery opening, Cole engagingly switched to a classic ballad, Manhattan, played at gently swinging pace, before returning to wilder musical pastures with Ramblin’ by avant garde jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman.
Bassist Owston is a marvellously articulate player, and his own composition Deep Blue was another highlight, while Bashford combines exciting, driving drumming with musical sensitivity.
Xhosa Cole is certain to go places in the wider jazz world, and the Wolverhampton audience had a splendid taste of the great things that are certain to come from this fine young player.
By John Watson
