Clarinet redux

Beginning with Nance Wilson’s Popup Jazzclub last November, I’ve been enjoying the opportunity to return to my roots and renew my ambivalent relationship with the squawking twig. I’ve been fortunate to record with the group led by David Ward (guitar) that includes Michaei Coughlin (bass), either Tony Bevan or Richard Nash (drums) and Nance Wilson or Robyn Aquino (vox). The repertoire is wide-ranging and challenges the clarinet to fit in without sounding too much like nails down a blackboard. Bad News is an example from a recent session, with Nance giving a remarkable performance, described by her sister as sounding like ‘a cross between Marlene Dietrich and Nico’.