The Gigspanner Big Band is actually the melding of Gigspanner and Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, this recording was made at Nettlebed Folk Club back in January 2017 and has been one of those low-key releases that always end up being in high demand (Remember those bootleg cassettes of live gigs that used to circulate?).
None of these musicians are the least bit bothered about fitting in to any pigeonhole, or indeed anyones expectations. True creativity speaks to the heart and entertains the mind with fresh ideas and images, and what brilliant entertainment this is. Knight has a knack for identifying the essence of a tune or song, pulling it apart and presenting it back to you in a way that surprises and refreshes. Martin and Henry simply make sublime music that has an otherworld of undercurrents and motifs woven through it. Put them all together and some alchemical magic occurs.
It’s basically impossible to pick out any one part of this that acts as a keystone, all the musicians involved are integral to the sound, Martin and Henry’s distinctive styles push and pull the sound in new directions. Yet fundamentally everyone compliments each other and the big band is delightful. This live recording is really good, keeping just enough of the atmospherics so that you know it’s live, yet balanced enough to lose yourself in it all.
So, yeah, deciding to keep this album’s release low-key was always going to be a hopeless manoeuvre. Gigs by PKGBB (can’t be bothered to type ‘Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Big Band’ … oh) are few and far between, so we really do deserve this recording thank you very much.
Iain Hazlewood
philliphenryandhannahmartin.co.uk
Catch them live quick!
April 2018 – The Gigspanner Big Band with Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin.
27th: Parish Hall, Harberton, Totnes Sold Out
For waiting list email: gbb@harbertonfolk.co.uk
28th: Bristol Folk House
Online: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/peter-knight-s-gigspanner-big-band-
Box Office 0117 926 2987
29th: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Online: http://www.theatresevern.co.uk/s…/music/gigspanner-big-band/
Box Office 01743 281 281
