Henry Lowther, left, with fellow trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. This beautiful 2003 study in discussion and concentration is from the archive of the late Russ Escritt, and posted in dedication to his memory.
You just have to say two words to those who have been listening to British jazz for a while to elicit (I’ll stick my neck out here and say) without exception a warm smile and enthusiastic appreciation. Those words are “Henry” and “Lowther”.
The trumpeter has a long and quietly illustrious career, mostly as a sideman and a session player. His CV, which stretches back to the 1960s, includes the bands of Mike Westbrook, John Dankworth, Graham Collier, Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs, John Taylor, Charlie Watts and Gil Evans. In a wider musical field he has played with Buzzcocks, the Keef Hartley Band and the interesting pop group Talk Talk.
As I write he is sharing his musical wisdom with students at Birmingham Conservatoire, but this evening, as a guest of Conservatoire Jazz Course head honcho and trombonist Jeremy Price, he will be spreading those warm smiles and appreciative words at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth.
The band is completed by Gareth Fowler on guitar, Arnie Somogyi on double bass and Andrew Bain on drums.
In a word: “classy”. For more information of this Blam! gig, go here
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