JULIAN ARGÜELLES' TETRA
Live at the Bonington Theatre, Nottingham, 5TH November 2015
Live at the Bonington Theatre, Nottingham, 5TH November 2015
Julian Argüelles Tetra - photo by Louis de Carlo
Julian Argüelles (saxophone), Kit Downes (piano), Sam Lasserson (bass) and James Maddren (drums)
Since the 1960s jazz has progressively detached itself from artistic modernism. More lately the artistic soundscape of contemporary jazz is increasingly a celebration of the local and the global. The new age of cosmopolitan jazz is concerned to explore complex identities and patterns within music drawing from a range of influences. Julian Argüelles is a wonderful expression of contemporary trends at their most lyrical and exploratory.
The Tetra tour making its way across Britain mixes folk, a touch of Ornette Coleman, flamenco and South African jazz into its pot along with a more contemporary sensibility. These elements are however seamlessly woven together to produce less of a patchwork quilt but more carefully composed poetic expression. The receptive audience enjoyed some of the highlights from a range of Argelles’s recent recordings as well as more recently written compositions.
If rave reviews on this website and in other publications are not enough the audience were treated to an evening of complex flowing music. Argüelles fans will have recognised ‘Hugger Mugger’, ‘Yada Yada’ and ‘Austerius’ from the recent album as being amongst the evenings high points. A feature of the second set was a tune penned by Argüelles for a member of the audience (Brenda) who was sitting on the front row. The especially commissioned composition called ‘A life-long moment’ showed off Argueles’s wonderful band at their innovative best. Argülles ended the tune by quipping that if there were other members of the audience who would like a tune written then with Christmas coming up they should get in touch!
Since the 1960s jazz has progressively detached itself from artistic modernism. More lately the artistic soundscape of contemporary jazz is increasingly a celebration of the local and the global. The new age of cosmopolitan jazz is concerned to explore complex identities and patterns within music drawing from a range of influences. Julian Argüelles is a wonderful expression of contemporary trends at their most lyrical and exploratory.
The Tetra tour making its way across Britain mixes folk, a touch of Ornette Coleman, flamenco and South African jazz into its pot along with a more contemporary sensibility. These elements are however seamlessly woven together to produce less of a patchwork quilt but more carefully composed poetic expression. The receptive audience enjoyed some of the highlights from a range of Argelles’s recent recordings as well as more recently written compositions.
If rave reviews on this website and in other publications are not enough the audience were treated to an evening of complex flowing music. Argüelles fans will have recognised ‘Hugger Mugger’, ‘Yada Yada’ and ‘Austerius’ from the recent album as being amongst the evenings high points. A feature of the second set was a tune penned by Argüelles for a member of the audience (Brenda) who was sitting on the front row. The especially commissioned composition called ‘A life-long moment’ showed off Argueles’s wonderful band at their innovative best. Argülles ended the tune by quipping that if there were other members of the audience who would like a tune written then with Christmas coming up they should get in touch!
Photo by Louis de Carlo
However the evening was mainly about the music with the other highlight being ‘Astrias’ which showcases James Madden’s ability on the drums, the focused delicacy of Arguelles as well as the fine playing of Kit Downes and Sam Lasseron. The music here as elsewhere is full of lyrical patterns that are carefully pieced together by surely one of the finest quartets playing in jazz today.
The evening ended with a huge and well deserved ovation for a band that are a privilege to watch. If we are currently living in a culture where jazz is relegated to a small niche then with music of this outstanding quality the rest of the world may soon awaken to discover what they are missing. It was a great night for the band, the Bonington and for the future of jazz music.
Reviewed by Nick Stevenson
The evening ended with a huge and well deserved ovation for a band that are a privilege to watch. If we are currently living in a culture where jazz is relegated to a small niche then with music of this outstanding quality the rest of the world may soon awaken to discover what they are missing. It was a great night for the band, the Bonington and for the future of jazz music.
Reviewed by Nick Stevenson
