Allison Neale and Chris Biscoe.

Two of a Mind at Jazz Hastings

Two brilliant saxophonists, Chris Biscoe and Allison Neale, will revisit two classic albums first recorded 50 years ago by jazz legends Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond at Jazz Hastings’ October session on Tuesday 1 October. Julian Norridge writes.

The original recordings, called Blues in Time and Two of a Mind, featured freewheeling, wonderfully melodic interpretations of standard material. The Guardian said of them that they had “the rare distinction of being both clever and tuneful, with touches of wit”.

This new band, which has adopted the name Two of a Mind, evokes the spirit of these classic recordings while giving free rein to the personalities of the musicians. Chris Biscoe on baritone sax and Alison Neale on alto use some arrangements from the original recordings alongside some of their own compositions and arrangements.

Multi-instrumentalist Chris Biscoe has played with numerous bands since he started in the 1960s, including Graham Collier and the New York Composers Orchestra. Among many others, he has recorded with Pete Hurt, Tony Kofi and Henry Lowther, all of whom have played at Jazz Hastings this year.

American born altoist Allison Neale’s beautifully crafted lines evoke the spirit of Paul Desmond and Art Pepper, with whom she has a particular affinity. She has performed alongside international artists such as Scott Hamilton as well as featuring in both the John Dankworth Generations Band and the Back to Basie Orchestra.

They will be joined for the evening by bass player Simon Thorpe, well-known to Jazz Hastings from Hexagonal, and by drummer Matt Fishwick, who has played in the UK and USA with Scott Hamilton, Jim Mullen, Anita O’Day and many others.

Two of a Mind Jazz Hastings, Tuesday 1 October, East Hastings Sea Angling Association (on the Stade behind the lifeboat station). Doors open 7.45pm for 8.30 start, tickets £10 on the door, £3 for under 18s.

Also in: Music & Sound