JAZZ REVIEW : ‘Chamber Blues’ From Corky Siegel
Corky Siegel’s “Chamber Blues” is a genuine hybrid. As heard Wednesday in the Irvine Barclay Theater at UC Irvine, the program of ambitious compositions and humorous songs offered more than blues licks played by the Consortium string quartet or classical figures from Siegel’s harmonica.
The longtime co-leader of the Chicago-based Siegel-Schwall Band has been dabbling in that other form of long-hair music since 1966, but the four movements of the “Chamber Blues Suite” are the first such pieces that Siegel has written on his own.
One section, entitled “Slow Blues,” opened with a strolling line from the cello that, with the violins, became a stately, Vivaldi-like figure.
Intertwined with the more serious pieces were short, blues-based numbers with comedic lyrics that Siegel sang in a style reminiscent of Mose Allison.
Siegel and the Consortium String Quartet appear Saturday at the Wadsworth Theater in West Los Angeles. Information: (213) 825-2953.
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