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Poet and Vocalist
SHEPHALI FROST |
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'Au Lapin Agile'
James Boyd, Chris Caldwell
Susie Hodder Williams |
It was in February of 2022 that 'Music on the Edge' stars, clarinetist and saxophonist Chris Caldwell and flautist Susie Hodder Williams, were at the Church of the Holy Trinity at Gidleigh to present their regular monthly 'Sunday@6' performance - a recreation of the early twentieth century Montmartre cabaret, 'Au Lapin Agile' - with guitarist James Boyd. (Full details on this blog - 20 February 2022.)
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Live at the Long Room
Chris Caldwell
Trevor Taylor
Susie Hodder Williams |
More recently, in addition to their extensive orchestral and session work around the world, Chris and Susie have been collaborating in a new project with musicians including their long time colleague, percussionist Trevor Taylor (who appeared with Chris and Susie at Drewsteignton - 29 January 2012).
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Zak Barrett
(RedShiftParty) |
Trevor, a fellow Guildhall alumnus, and founder of Future Music Records and the Jazz 825 Club in Southend-on-Sea, now works with saxophonists Zak Barrett and Martin Hathaway, 'cellist Shanti Jayasimha, Pianist David Lee, sitarist Jonathan Mayer and tabla player Aslam Ali to form a new ensemble to showcase the singing and poetry of Chelmsford vocalist Shephali Frost.
The 'Shephali Frost Ensemble' line-up varies from one concert to another, as does the format and style, with all these wonderful musicians adding to an ever-evolving musical experience to delight their audiences.
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Shah Hussain Faqir
Sufi Poet
16th Century Punjab |
Shephali came to the UK from Uttar Pradesh to study at Bath Spa University and Cardiff University Film School. She trained as a classical Indian singer. Later she broke through to new musical horizons when she encountered the Urdu Kalam, poetry in the Islamic tradition of Pakistan and India. Moving to Essex six years ago, she now lives in Chelmsford.
During 2020, when musicians were forced to experiment with virtual rehearsals and performances, Shephali began to experiment with her own poetic compositions in combination with traditional poetry and song. One by one the other musicians joined the project bringing together western classical and jazz sounds with Sufi mysticism. The non-denominational Islamic tradition of Sufism employs the ecstasy and transcendence of music and poetry in pursuit of a closer experience of God. A good description of Shephali's creations with the Ensemble.
In their weekly meetings Shephali and Zak Barret try out new possibilities for the combination of disparate musical styles. (Zak is also well known for his tenor saxophone playing with 'The Zed Collective' and Guthrie Govan's 'Erotic Cakes'.)
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Luke Jerram: 'Gaia'
Chelmsford Cathedral |
For three weeks in October 2022 Luke Jerram's colossal earth sculpture 'Gaia' was on display at Chelmsford Cathedral and the Shephali Frost Ensemble performed their 'Earth Sound Concert' including 'bhajans' (hymns) to Lord Krishna written by devotee Saint Meerabai in the sixteenth century. (Gaia was also at Exeter Cathedral in February 2023, and there will be another chance to see the sculpture at Truro Cathedral from 6-28 October this year.)
Shephali's reach also extends to international festivals. She performed at the 'Metaphor' Literary Festival in Lucknow in December 2022, and also the 'Jashn-e-Rekhta' (Celebration) International Urdu Festival in New Delhi. Shephali is also a contributor to a new project 'for a new approach to world literature' supported by the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and London Museums with the intriguing title, 'Mulosige' (MUltilingual LOcals & SIgnificant GEographies).
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Compère: Chris Caldwell
(Note shoes!) |
Last Saturday, 22 July, Shephali was at the Finch Café in Hackney with Trevor, Susie, saxophonist Martin Hathaway, keyboard player David Lee, sitarist Jonathan Mayer and violinist Philipp Wachsman, for a concert inspired by the plight of refugees crossing the English Channel, 'Lifejackets'. Even as that concert was happening, the team were also preparing for this Sunday's performance at Gidleigh Parish Church.
In a strange echo of the 'Au Lapin Agile' evening eighteen months before, a wild Dartmoor rain lashed the church as an eager throng arrived for the evening's experience. Inside the church Trevor Taylor had set up his percussion instruments, and the space was crammed with all manner of bells, gongs and cymbals - not to mention a full drum kit and vibraphone. Seated nearby with his own audio setup was guest guitarist Jerry Crozier-Cole. Susie Hodder Williams had both her regular and alto flutes and Chris Caldwell had come prepared with a soprano saxophone and splendid bass clarinet.
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| Percussion: Trevor Taylor |
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Guitar:
Jerry Crozier-Cole |
The first piece was a merging of Shephali's modern English poetry with the Punjabi 'Qissa' of Shiv Kumar Batalvi (winner of the 1967 Sahitya Akademi Award for his setting of the Puran Bhagat legend in his epic poem 'Loona'). Jerry's incredibly subtle electric guitar improvisation and Trevor's ever-shifting percussive soundscape perfectly framed the moving words of the poetry, and the electrifying intensity of the Punjabi singing. The audience were instantly transported to a magical and captivating world of musical emotion.
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Alto Flute:
Susie Hodder Williams |
As the sound softly faded, Shephali introduced a familiar theme, A bhajan written by Saint Meerabai in praise of her beloved Lord Krishna. Shephali explained that Meerabai was a Rajasthani Princess who flouted convention by singing her devotional songs in the street with the poor and homeless. Shephali's poem 'My Forest Love' was combined with Meerabai's "I have been given the richness of God's name blessing". The introduction this time was Susie's alto flute with just the haunting and mesmerising continuo of Jerry's subtly fluctuating guitar chords. An incredibly sad and deeply moving experience.
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'City of Rats':
Lewis Frost |
In an unexpected change to the advertised billing, Shephali then introduced the Ensemble's creative consultant, theatre director (and video cameraman for the evening) Lewis Frost. Lewis is currently working on a theatre production involving the music of the Ensemble. For this evening's performance Shephali had asked him to recite her own composition, 'The Night in the City of Rats'.
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Bass Clarinet:
Chris Caldwell |
Lewis stepped forward from the shadows to take centre stage and was introduced by an eerie and unsettling series of achingly excruciating notes from Chris's bass clarinet, and a disconcertingly staccato accompaniment from Trevor's bells and drums. With prepossessing assurance and calm, Lewis recounted in verse a terrifying account of a traumatic night spent in a rat infested hotel room. An odd subject, but quite in keeping with the intense emotional theme of the evening.
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'Moringa Tree':
Trevor Taylor
Shephali Frost |
Shephali was a little concerned that we wouldn't have enough time for all the musical delights that had been prepared, but Chris was quick to reassure her of what we were all thinking: this is 'Dartmoor Time' - ample time to share all these delightful experiences. So Shephali moved on to a composition by Trevor Taylor which Shephali has updated with original lyrics. This 'Sunrise Raga' is now called 'The Moringa Tree' after the drought resistant malunggay (moringa oleifera) native to southern India.
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'Moringa Tree':
Shephali Frost & Chris Caldwell |
Trevor's gentle vibraphone melody, with swelling guitar sound from Jerry,
was joined by Susie's flute in a delightful evocation of a shady woodland scene. The combination of vibraphone and flute was delicate and delicious. Shephali slowly and seductively introduced the words, recounting a moonlit dance under the moringa tree. Every line was echoed by the sweet combination of musical sounds from flute and vibraphone - and, latterly, soft but increasingly urgent interjections from Chris' bass clarinet - leading to a moving cadenza in the upper range of the instrument. A splendid confluence of styles.
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'High Heels for a Holiday':
Shephali Frost & Chris Caldwell |
As a diversion and a reminder that, despite the rain, it is holiday season. Chris had chosen a poem with a light hearted theme, but more serious undertones, 'High Heels on a Holiday'. Chris opens with his unmistakeable soprano saxophone style which leads to a phonetic conversation between speaker and saxophone. Occasional uncommon words like "Fuchs-i-a" (describing toenail-varnish) are corrected with amusing pedantry by the saxophone.
Chris himself comes into the story, as the characters' shoes are like his - but smarter! The response from Chris' clarinet is appropriately offended. The interaction becomes increasingly flirtatious, with tacit acknowledgements to Susie (Chris's wife), before ending abruptly in the midst of a surreal holiday scene. A very different, and beautifully crafted composition.
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'To the Home of my Beloved':
Shephali Frost |
Returning to a serious vein, the next piece was by thirteenth century sufi poet and saint, Shah Hussain Faqir. Shephali was quick to point out the contradiction even in his name, 'King Hussain the Beggar'. In Sufi philosophy a man who conquers himself is a king, because the world matters nothing to him. His song 'To the Home of my Beloved' is about this self-actualisation - and those things that stand in the way of fulfilment - as sung by a tribal girl.
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Bowed Vibraphone:
Trevor Taylor |
The opening of this very traditional song is slow and plaintive. Jerry and Trevor did everything with guitar and drums to enhance the sense of quiet foreboding. Now Shephali really began to demonstrate her classical singing skills. Initially a few words and phrases were given more strident emphasis, and explanatory English lyrics were interjected to clarify the mood. Flute and saxophone were joined by Trevor's vibraphone, which he now played with a violin bow, as Shephali's words and delivery became ever more pained and voluble - the exquisitely agonised cries of anguish filling the nave of the small church and overwhelming the audience.
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'The Underwater City':
Shephali Frost
Trevor Taylor - Chris Caldwell |
After this magnificent outpouring of emotion, something more mundane was needed to end the concert and bring the audience back to reality - the reality of a rainy Dartmoor evening. Susie chose 'The Underwater City'. Far from an Indian tradition, this organic interaction of brilliant musicians and Shephali's individual and unconventional style, evoked the tragic recent events in New Delhi - recently inundated by meltwater from the Yamunotri Glacier bursting the banks of the Yamuna tributary of the Ganges in India's capital. A very appropriate and respectful recognition of this shocking event - "The New Delhi Deluge". Flute, Bass Clarinet, guitar strings and every jangling percussion instrument contributed to the mood of this final piece.
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Vote of Thanks:
Chris Caldwell |
This was an extra special 'Sunday@6' event. An audience familiar and enamoured with the fabulous creations of 'Music on the Edge' had been treated to an extraordinary evening of musical expression and creativity. A grey evening had been completely forgotten in a total immersion in sound and emotion. Many thanks to all involved. We are indeed blessed to have such beautiful music on our doorstep.
And there is more to come! The Shephali Frost Ensemble, this time featuring Chris, Susie, Trevor, Jonathan Mayer (sitar) and pianist Dan Banks will be giving a concert in Wells Cathedral at 7pm on Friday 18 August. 'The Inheritance of Love' - 'Ancestral Voices' will feature English lyric with Persian, Saraiki, Hindi, Punjabi, Pashto and Urdu poetry in an hour filled with meditative songs and energetic dance music.
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Flautist & Poet
Susie Hodder Williams
Shephali Frost |
Chris and Susie's 'Music on the Edge' have another local engagement later in the year. The 'Corvus Consort' vocal group will be coming to Dartmoor for the Whiddon Autumn Festival in September and their first concert, 'Byrd Takes Flight', will be in Drewsteignton Church at 8pm on Wednesday 13 September - with Chris and Susie providing accompaniment.
There are twelve more events in the festival, in Chagford, Moretonhampstead and Throwleigh. (Details on their website - whiddonautumnfestival.co.uk)
Not forgetting, Chris is a founder member of the Delta Saxophone Quartet, now approaching its fortieth anniversary season. This autumn they will release their new album, 'Late Music' featuring new compositions by many of their collaborators over the years - including local musicians Paul Honey and Joe Duddell. Extracts will feature on upcoming 'Classical Journey' programmes on Phonic FM, with Chris joining us to fill in more of the details.
And Sunday night's music was recorded for us to enjoy on future 'Classical Journey' programmes too.
A splendid prospect all round!
