Summer Spirits Reviewed

Christopher Fryman and his friends put on a splendid show with Summer Spirits last Sunday. Opening with a fanfare of trumpets the musicians and dancers paraded into Urbanguild before settling into a carnivalesque performance of what Christopher calls “structured improvisation”. Basically he gives the musicians some loose musical themes to play with and then they take it where they will. The rather heavy symbolism of this performance (money, rockets etc) was a little too pat for me, but this was more than made up for by the joyous and colourful performance of the dancers and the array of profound talent among the assembled musicians. In the second half the team got together again for a free jam session. Unfettered by scripts they let their hair down in a celebration of free expression. Christopher himself belied his years by singing and dancing as well as playing his signature trumpet. Ever youthful, it is astonishing to me that he was celebrating his 71st birthday. Long may he continue to sing, dance, play and create ever more wonderful shows!