Portico Quartet

Loved the album and so wanted to photograph this young jazz group. Jack Whylie (above) on sax was brilliant and I thought the colours in the photograph were very ‘modern jazz’!

Lighting in the tiny Liverpool venue was basic, to say the least… but over the years I have tried to use what light there for dramatic effect. Above I saddled up close to drummer Duncan Bellamy and used a thin shaft of light which highlighted his face and retro styled mic. I like this shot a lot.

A key part is played by a percussive instrument called a Hang in the group’s style and sound, which is highly distinctive. So I had to photograph this oriental instrument in use, here played by the group’s leader Nick Hulvey.