Piano and drums duo tackle Leonard Bernstein, Paul Simon and more, moving between rambunctious abandon and pointillistic pianissimos, deep grooves to pastel soundscapes.
Liam Noble – piano
Paul Clarvis – Drums
Joined by Chris Batchelor for the second set
Having played in many bands together, Liam Noble and Paul Clarvis reconvene in their original formation, a duo that moves between pop, classical and jazz repertoire with fluidity, awkwardness and grace. Bernstein’s “West Side Story” rubs shoulders with Paul Simon, Don McLean, Dizzy Gillespie and Moondog, grooves mingle with soundscapes and counterpoint, and Paul laughs a lot.
“Noble…trickles around the keyboard and improvises with economy, never making this anything less than a pleasure. You’d think that as Clarvis’ name is billed first that this could be some flashy percussion showcase. Quite the reverse: his brush strokes are supportive and complementary, adding to the work’s mellow and diverting feel.” Daryl Easley, BBC Music Review
“exquisite and casually joyous music-making between consummate improvisers” John Fordham, The Guardian “Maybe grown-ups get in the way, and it takes a six year-old to understand such things.” LondonJazz
You’ve probably heard Paul anchoring bands at the Vortex – but just as much in the cinema (where he played on the last 12 James Bond films, Star Wars and more) as well as countless sessions. He was Bernstein’s favourite London percussionist for many years. But given his youthfulness, he must have been hardly out of nappies at the time?!