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Dave Holdsworth's New Brew: Wodgi
Dave Holdsworth
flugelhorn
Mike Westbrook
composer / conductorb.1936
Barry Guy
bass, acousticb.1947
Tony Oxley
drums1938 - 2023
Don Cherry
trumpet1936 - 1995
As to the music here, for me, it recalls—albeit on its own terms—
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto1930 - 2015
Sonny Rollins
saxophoneb.1930
The title track is a chase with the horns interweaving over the rhythm—it's 'fun' and that's a word we hear too little in jazz. Indeed, despite the clever balance of light and shade herein, 'fun' was an overriding impression left by the record. The same is true of "Harambee II" and "Lickety Split," the two East/South African influenced pieces. Listen also to "About Time" from the four-part suite "Anytime Now" -it certainly brought a smile to my normally sour boat.
There's often a Spanish tinge to several tracks here—that gorgeous meeting of the blues with music that came up through what was once the Spanish Main and that one hears in music as diverse as
Gil Evans
composer / conductor1912 - 1988
Jelly Roll Morton
piano1890 - 1941
Alan Wakeman
saxophoneb.1947
Roz Harding
saxophone, altoTrumpeter Dave Holdsworth recently spoke to author Duncan Heining about Wodgi.
All About Jazz: When we corresponded some years ago, you told me that you were never a full-time professional musician. What was the day job and how did music fit in with that?
Dave Holdsworth: I was in teaching. For the first five years (1964-9) in a Secondary Modern School and I then transferred to the Further Education Sector. Although it was not the reason to move, I found the flexibility of timetabling and working conditions enabled me to play all the jazz gigs on offer. (Over the whole of my teaching career I only had to dep out gigs on four occasions, two of those being Thursday afternoon matinees with Westbrook's Tyger at the National Theatre.) I never taught music—specialist subjects being English, and History. I retired on health grounds in 1992 by which time I was Principal of Carshalton College.
I stayed a semi-pro as my teaching job was secure, I was married with a family, I only wanted to play jazz and this by itself would never provide the necessary income, I did not want to teach music (a usual side-line for many pro musicians) and I had no thoughts or prospects of studio/theatre/function music work. It worked out very well but would not have done so without my stable family life and the undying support of my wife Nell. I taught a limited amount of music after 2004.
AAJ: Most people will know you from your work with Westy, the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra, Tony Oxley,
Harry Miller
bassb.1941
Mike Osborne
saxophone, alto1941 - 2007
DH: I arrived in London in 1964 and found myself in the midst of probably the most fertile period of contemporary jazz in Britain. Until I moved to Devon in 2005 I had never turned down an invitation to play jazz -the money on offer (usually little or none) was irrelevant. The diversity of jazz being played was breath-taking, there was a shortage of trumpet players (mainly
Kenny Wheeler
flugelhorn1930 - 2014
Henry Lowther
trumpetb.1941
Harry Beckett
flugelhorn1935 - 2010
Dick Pearce
b.1951
Graham Collier
composer / conductor1937 - 2011
John Warren
composer / conductorb.1938
Chris McGregor
b.1936
Evan Parker
saxophone, sopranob.1944
The Sixties were a time when lots of musicians felt the urge to try things out for themselves -me included. The earliest composition on Wodgi was written in the 1960s, the most recent in January 2018. The first BBC broadcast under my own name -Dave Holdsworth Quartet was in 1968 and included
Alan Wakeman
saxophoneb.1947
AAJ: Am I right in thinking that Wodgi is your debut album as leader? If so, what kept you?
DH: In 1990 the Dave Holdsworth-
Liane Carroll
piano and vocalsAbout four years later with funding from South-East Arts, I released an independent recording of my Brighton-based quartet -Lydia's List." (I put it out as a cassette on the assumption it would sell in vast quantities as that is how people would play their music in their cars—there's foresight for you!) I reckon I have been fortunate enough to be a featured soloist on 20+ records. After several years of semi-inertia and waiting for the phone to ring, having found the right musicians, Wodgi is a belated attempt to let my own personal music take wing again.
AAJ: Listening to Wodgi, the first impression is of the openness of the music. The tunes seem to be springboards that could take off in any direction. Was this what you were aiming for with the album?
DH: Absolutely right. I have complete trust in the musicians in the band and built into many the tunes the opportunity to vary tempo, rhythm, key, notes and harmony. I am happiest myself in this situation and get a particular buzz from no knowing quite what is going to happen next.
AAJ: You've been playing with Westy again for a few years now and the other members of New Brew are all from the Uncommon Orchestra. How long have you been working as a unit because this sounds like a truly played in band?
DH: I am delighted at your observation but have to tell you the record was recorded after only two three-hour rehearsals in the two days before we went into the studio. I know these musicians very well—mainly through the Westbrook circus -but I have worked with
Roz Harding
saxophone, altoAAJ: I suppose, if I had to find reference points to describe the music for readers, these would be Ornette's quartet and Sonny Rollins trio and maybe the quartet with Don Cherry. The rhythms are wonderfully supple and underpin these intricate and melody lines. How would you react to that as a comparison?
DH: With joy and humility. When we were recording, the engineer, not a particular jazz fan, said "It sounds very New Orleans." I was quietly, very pleased, as I myself see a total harmony of spirit across the whole jazz spectrum —why would I wish it to be otherwise? ">
Track Listing
Wodgi; Harambee II; Waiting for the Rain; Suite: Anytime Now – About Time, To Quietness, Stump, Jalanga; Ten Day Simon; Lydia’s List; Too Late, Too Late; Beefa, Lickety Split; Perhaps Tomorrow.
Personnel
Dave Holdsworth
flugelhornDave Holdsworth (trumpet, composer), Alan Wakeman (tenor, soprano), Roz Harding (alto), Marcus Vergette (bass), Coach York (drums).
Album information
Title: Wodgi | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self-Produced
Tags
Dave Holdsworth's New Brew
Extended Analysis
Duncan Heining
Wodgi
Self-Produced
Dave Holdsworth
Mike Westbrook
barry guy
Tony Oxley
Don Cherry
Ornette Coleman
Sonny Rollins
Gil Evans
Jelly Roll Morton
Alan Wakeman
Roz Harding
London Jazz Composers' Orchestra
Harry Miller
Mike Osborne
Kenny Wheeler
Henry Lowther
Harry Beckett
Dick Pearce
Graham Collier
John Warren
Chris McGregor
Jim Philip
evan parker
Alan Wakeman
Liane Carroll
Roz Harding
Coach York
Marcus Vergette
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