Great duo projects in jazz can be a joy to behold, and this is certainly true of 'Big Visit', the ACT album from Emma Rawicz (sax) and Gwilym Simcock (piano). In the last few months, I've seen Rawicz at Ronnie Scott's with Laila Biali, interviewed her for Harmonious World and now listened to her work with renowned pianist Gwilym Simcock. Her ability to retain her musical character in different settings is really special and this duo collection is something very special.
Emma told me about her project with Simcock and the energy and enthusiasm with which she discussed it is certainly evident in the tracks on this album.
Emma told me about her project with Simcock and the energy and enthusiasm with which she discussed it is certainly evident in the tracks on this album.
Simcock is fulsome in his praise for her skill, and that is huge praise from this giant of jazz: “It’s a really joyful experience and a positive environment. We just get on so well, her writing is so advanced, her attention to detail extraordinary. With her, the ideas just flow from person to instrument, and that’s the ideal we all aspire to.”
The respect is mutual, as Emma recalls. “I was already a fan, so playing in a duo really is a dream come true for me.”
The respect is mutual, as Emma recalls. “I was already a fan, so playing in a duo really is a dream come true for me.”
After initially playing together, they apparently both liked the idea of a duo, which was also being actively encouraged by ACT boss Andreas Brandis and the result is this new album, as well as a number of duo appearances when their busy schedules allow.
Big Visit includes a number of originals - two from each, plus Stevie Wonder's Visions, which Simcock arranged and You've Changed by Carl Fischer.
Visions in particular allows the individual and collective sound of this duo to shine spectacularly. Simcock's opening introduces Rawicz's tenor sax rendition of the melody in a very different but utterly beautiful version of Wonder's classic. Stripped back and no less complex in its detail, the whole tune takes on an intensity embraces and pays tribute to the original. Gorgeous duo jazz.
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