PHIL
DWYER TRIO @ The Rex Hotel
At
the 2012 TD Toronto Jazz Festival, one of my personal highlights was seeing
saxophonist, pianist, composer and arranger Phil Dwyer perform the Canadian
Songbook along with great jazz musicians such as Laila Biali and Rob
Piltch. This time around, I get to see
one of Canada’s great jazz musicians in an up close and intimate concert
setting at a cozy little jazz joint known as the Rex Hotel. For his opening set, he sure did not
disappoint the audience or myself.
In a
trio setting, Phil opens the set by putting on the pianist’s hat for a rousing
take on Harry Warren’s “Summer Night”, as arranged by fellow Canadian pianist
and composer Renee Rosnes. Following
was an introspective take on Joe Zawinul’s composition “Midnight Mood”, showing
off the beauty and poise of the piece and taking it into new heights.
For
the next two numbers, Phil puts on the tenor sax hat and does his John
Coltrane/Sonny Rollins thing on “Darn that Dream” and “Mr. Jones”. His sax playing is full of raw emotion and
full of great ideas that jump right at you and into your gut.
Phil
puts on the piano hat again for a contemplative reading of Willie Nelson’s
classic song “Crazy”, made famous by Patsy Cline. It was a straight reading with great solos
throughout the number.
To
end, Phil puts on the tenor sax cap and plays his own composition, a calypso
piece called “Narcolypso”. It echoed
Sonny Rollins’ St. Thomas and the great
feel of being at a Caribbean carnival parade.
A
word about the rhythm section. Pat
Collins is one of the best and most reliable timekeepers and bass players
residing in the city. He has a great
flair for the music and he is really gets the drive going when it is called for
in a tune. Terry Clarke undoubtedly is
one of the great legends of Canadian jazz.
He has performed with jazz greats such as Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, John
Handy and even recorded an album with Oscar Peterson. He is one of the most rhythmically creative
and stimulating drummers to play on the scene and we are fortunate to have him
as a Canadian treasure.
All
in all, a great night of jazz from a great icon in Canadian jazz.
PHIL
DWYER OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
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