Andy Scott, Paul Mitchell-Davidson and Geth Griffith, also known as Trio Halata, were delighted to open the Middlewich and District Concerts Society’s Twenty-Fifth season. This they did by producing a completely different style of music, widely described as a “breath of fresh air”.

The Trio, Andy on saxophones, Paul on guitar, mandolin and accordion, and Geth on double bass and bass guitar, played with a jazz style, but without the interminable opaqueness of modern jazz. Although most of the music was unfamiliar to the audience there was much to enjoy, with all three musicians guiding the audience through a diverse programme.

There was music from Portugal (Paul lived there for five years), Britain and Ireland, the United States, Israel, Brazil, Argentina and Mali. There were calypsos, tangos, folk songs, love songs and other sources of inspiration. To select a few which linger in the memory: “Leaving Stoer” by Ivan Drever, “Bicycles and Bluebells” by Huw Warren, “Salvador” by Sonny Rollins, “Oblivion” and “Libertango” by Piazzolla. But it would have been just as easy to choose pieces by Hermeto Pascoal, Antonio Carlos Joabim, Glen Moore, Charlie Haden, Vinicius Cantuaria, the most prolific of them all, “Traditional”, and “Larus” by Paul Mitchell-Davidson. It was a fascinating evening!

The next concert is on Saturday, November 15, in the Drama Studio of Middlewich High School with Heather Bills playing cello and Harvey Davies on piano, from the Pleyel Ensemble. For further details please see the web-site www.madcs.org.uk or contact Roger Evans on 01606 834471.