At a time when the big-band sound is the order of the day, and a separate brass, woodwind and string section seems to be de rigeur to qualify for headline billing at any festival of note, it’s interesting to see Peter Knight – Steeleye Span’s legendary fiddle player and an early exponent of the folk-rock style – doing a neat about-turn and boldly heading in the opposite direction.
But while Gigspanner may be a return to the traditional skills of close harmony and tight, intricate accompaniments that once characterised Baroque Folk, this is no mere retro offering.
Joined by Guitarist and composer Roger Flack and the formidable energies of Afro-Percussionist Vincent Salzfaas on Conga’s and Djembe, the Trio co-create a depth of multi-textured melody that belies the pared-down instrumental line-up.
It’s fair to say that folk is at the bed-rock of their repertoire, but only just. Mrs. McGrath and The Water is Wide were familiar enough, but it was the delicate, lyrical ‘The Butterfly’ and ‘Dave Roberts French Waltz’ (wittily merged into a gloriously overplayed ‘La vie en Rose’) that opened the evening of virtuoso playing that ranged across genres and styles for the better part of two hours.
For Flack, a consummate musician in his own right, less was decidedly more, with his fine, fluent playing emerging out of the background – like the best of waiters – whenever it was required, and never more so than when adding a much needed edge to the blues standard ‘Sitting on top of the World’.
Salzfaas’ work was no less finely balanced, coming to the fore with a rattling solo on the African inspired ‘Too Late for Shadows’ and even threatening to upstage Knight’s deft Pizzicato work.
Exceptional stuff, and not to be missed.
Noel Harvey, Acoustic Magazine.
Peter Knight’s Gigspanner, Nettlebed Folk Club
Peter Knight is probably one of this country's best known and loved fiddle players. And I include the general public in that as even the non-folkies have heard Steeleye Span and most recall the band's charismatic bowman. During a fallow period in Steeleye's history Peter concentrated on other projects that included many solo guises sometimes with others involved. The resurgence of Steeleye Span, which celebrates it 40th anniversary this year, has not stopped Peter exploring new avenues for his music. Just one of these is Gigspanner.
The concert at Nettlebed Village Hall - a venue with an enviable reputation for the quality of its acts - was part of a short tour before Peter and his Steeleye colleagues got stuck into their anniversary touring in earnest. Quite simply, this band is stunning. It provides by far and away the best platform for Peter's playing in his many professional endeavours. His cohorts are absolutely on the money with their expressive and sensitive accompaniment of Peter's soaring violin sound. The overall balance is perfectly pitched but the sound just mighty.
The set included traditional as well as self-penned pieces and the whole was an entertainment of the highest order and a musical experience that anyone with even a passing interest in the violin and its music should see, hear and enjoy.
Roger Flack's guitar playing is the perfect foil for Peter's lead achieving every musician's dream of making your own mark whilst providing excellence in support of the main melody line. Alongside this Vincent Salzfaas extracts such a breadth of tone from his percussion set and immaculate rhythmic accompaniment. Just a joy to listen to.
I doubt this year will be out before festival organisers are queuing up to book this sensational band.
You can tell I was impressed - and I take some impressing. But my advice to you is simple: go see this band as I guarantee you'll enjoy it and be impressed too, mightily!
Hugh Crabtree
Peter Knight’s Gigspanner - Preston Guildhall Blistering Pace in Flamboyant Musical World Tour
Is Peter Knight the Jimi Hendrix of the fiddle world?
Just like the late guitar god, Knight sports an iconic ‘tache.
More importantly, he can be just as inventive and flamboyant musically – although he resisted setting his instrument on fire.
Knight has been the fiddle player with folk-rock founders Steeleye Span for 40 years, but Gigspanner seems custom built to support the more fluid side of his musical personality – one that is necessarily suppressed in his work with Steeleye or as part of the massed violin ensemble known as the Feast of Fiddles.
Backing him here are talented rock guitarist Roger Flack and percussionist Vincent Salzfaas, a two-man engine room that produces the revs.
And Capt Knight does like to let the music roam where it will, improvising wildly through tunes and songs drawn from a world of cultural influences.
There’s Irish folk in the shape of slipjigs such as the delicate opening piece, The Butterfly. There’s French style Jazz in a Stephane Grapelli-style Hot Club number. And there’s African beats and rhythms on Walking With Shadows (actually ‘Too Late for Shadows’) which pushes Senegal trained Salzfaas to the fore for a stunning solo, playing with hands on a collection of Conga’s and Djembe Drums.
Knight takes a deep breath before launching into The Water Carriers, and if he had been playing the Guitar rather than the fiddle this piece would equal a heavy metal solo, before it melts into a gentle Middle Eastern air. There’s even a touch of American Blues in a version of Chris Smithers Sitting On Top Of The World.
But whatever the style, Knight’s the star – skipping and slipping with the bow or seamlessly switching to pizzicato finger picking – his head back and transfixed, and occasionally singing too. This show is certainly worth catching.
"Thanks so much for the performance, it was just brilliant and goes down in my book of all time greats"!
Chris Maddocks, Farnham Maltings
"Gigspanner turned out to be one of the best bands I have ever booked at Ruskin Mill, I’m not sure that we’ve had better musicians. Peter Knight’s fiddle playing is as beautiful a combination of skill and love as I have ever heard. Vincent Salzfaas on percussion and Roger Flack on guitar were perfect, equally excellent.
The music Gigspanner creates crosses all boundaries. The experience left the audience blown away, we all had the most fantastic night.
I have never had such courteous negotiations with any band, and it didn’t change. The guys were lovely to know, grateful for all our efforts to make them feel at home and they had an easy rapport with the audience. I’m booking them again for next year". Sue Smee, Ruskin Mill, Gloucestershire.
"One of the most magical evenings we've ever had at Folk in the Barn, and we've had a few! Peter, Roger and Vincent entranced us with their sublime musicianship and no-one wanted the evening to end. Can't wait to have them back.Its hard to put into words just how great it was"! Debs Earl, Promoter, Folk in the Barn, Kent.
"Gigspanner are an unassuming trio, but when they start to play – WOW! The audience are grabbed by a performance of dazzling musicianship with breathtaking, virtuoso fiddling from Peter Knight, backed by superb guitar work and Afro-percussion from Roger and Vincent. All were won over by the emotion that these performers put into their music and the love they show in sharing it with people.
A member of the audience summed it up with the words, ‘I don’t have the superlatives to describe it. It was a performance of the highest degree"!’ John and Jan Culf, Promoters, Harberton Folk, Devon
“I knew with their pedigree Gigspanner would give the Bridport audience a good night out. What I wasn’t prepared for was how fantastic they are live, and how much I personally would enjoy the evening. When I found myself on my feet dancing with the audience to the last few numbers, I was delighted I had booked them"
Margie Barbour, Program Manager, Bridport Arts Centre.
"I was absolutely delighted with Gigspanner's performance, it was one of my Festival Highlights and I will certainly be booking them again in future. One can only describe Peter Knight's performance as virtuoso, with Vincent Salzfaas and Roger Flack both powerful and intelligent musicians in their own right". Geoff Boudreau, Rye Arts Festival organiser.
“Intelligent, multi-lingual music making” Julian Cowley, The Wire
“With Gigspanner, Peter Knight has put together a tight trio with which to let his playing fly…stepping lightly through folk, classical, baroque and jazz, Gigspanner produce music of intelligently crafted brilliance”. Andy Letcher, Songlines Magazine
“Altogether gorgeous…music to sustain the spirit. Rarely have I heard such insistent calls for encores" Dai Jeffries, Rock 'n Reel Magazine
“The Trio co-create a depth of multi-textured melody that belies the pared-down instrumental line-up. Exceptional stuff, and not to be missed” Noel Harvey, Acoustic Magazine
“Peter Knight can spin the World on his Bow" Sir Terry Pratchett
“Heavenly music, truly inspiring and what it's all about…
I've been to the well and feel nourished" Marion Fleetwood, Violinist and Cellist/Colvin Quarmby
“Brilliant, moving and inspiring" Chris Leslie, Fairport Convention
“Gigspanner entranced the audience...they brought the house down" Peter Cripps for The Gloucestershire Echo
Media
Live
Friday April 20th 2012– Lower Swell Village Hall
Saturday April 21st 2012 - Lawrence Sherriff School, Rugby
Sunday 22nd April 2012 - Sheepscombe Village Hall, Glos
