JAZZ IN THE ROUND @ THE COCKPIT THEATRE
Gateforth Street, London NW8 – July 25, 2016
Gateforth Street, London NW8 – July 25, 2016
Headliner: Ant Law’s Art of Rhythm Trio – Ant Law (guitar); Matt Ridley (double bass); Asaf Sirkis (drums)
Solo: Zoe Rahman (piano)
Opening Band: Seed – Miguel Gorodi (trumpet); Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet); Cassie Kinochi (alto sax/leader); Chelsea Carmichael (tenor sax); Nathaniel Cross (trombone); Theon Cross (tuba); Joe Arman-Jones (piano); Oscar Laurence (guitar); Rio Kai (double bass); Patrick Boyle (drums)
I have been documenting events at this monthly series for a couple of years now and have never been disappointed with the music on display. J.I.T.R. is a kind of microcosm of all that is great about the current London jazz scene. Once again, these three contrasting performances really hit the mark.
Seed is a tentet of superb young musicians led by the inspirational alto saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi. Their ensemble work was as tight as a nut and every soloist delivered solos of the utmost maturity. Kinoshi is a born leader. She directed the band with great authority and style. Three of the four compositions were self-penned, the penultimate tune (“Repay in Kind”) a quirky, Greg Osby offering which was a real workout for the excellent pianist, Joe Arman-Jones. Kinochi’s originals were all well-crafted, an exuberant mix of jazz, West African and Carribean influences. The infectious grooves were guaranteed to put a smile on the face.
Zoe Rahman was booked at the very last minute. I’m so glad she was available. Apart from being a brilliant and inventive pianist, she is a charming and warm humanbeing. This came across overwhelmingly as she was briefly interviewed by Jez Nelson. Her short set was one seemless improvisation which took us on a wondrous emotional journey. She used the full range of the keyboard, both inside and out, to tell her story. Zoe told me that the material was culled from a few tunes from her latest album, Dreamland, which I shall be reviewing very shortly.
Solo: Zoe Rahman (piano)
Opening Band: Seed – Miguel Gorodi (trumpet); Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet); Cassie Kinochi (alto sax/leader); Chelsea Carmichael (tenor sax); Nathaniel Cross (trombone); Theon Cross (tuba); Joe Arman-Jones (piano); Oscar Laurence (guitar); Rio Kai (double bass); Patrick Boyle (drums)
I have been documenting events at this monthly series for a couple of years now and have never been disappointed with the music on display. J.I.T.R. is a kind of microcosm of all that is great about the current London jazz scene. Once again, these three contrasting performances really hit the mark.
Seed is a tentet of superb young musicians led by the inspirational alto saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi. Their ensemble work was as tight as a nut and every soloist delivered solos of the utmost maturity. Kinoshi is a born leader. She directed the band with great authority and style. Three of the four compositions were self-penned, the penultimate tune (“Repay in Kind”) a quirky, Greg Osby offering which was a real workout for the excellent pianist, Joe Arman-Jones. Kinochi’s originals were all well-crafted, an exuberant mix of jazz, West African and Carribean influences. The infectious grooves were guaranteed to put a smile on the face.
Zoe Rahman was booked at the very last minute. I’m so glad she was available. Apart from being a brilliant and inventive pianist, she is a charming and warm humanbeing. This came across overwhelmingly as she was briefly interviewed by Jez Nelson. Her short set was one seemless improvisation which took us on a wondrous emotional journey. She used the full range of the keyboard, both inside and out, to tell her story. Zoe told me that the material was culled from a few tunes from her latest album, Dreamland, which I shall be reviewing very shortly.
Photograph by Steve Cropper
Ant Law’s set was exhilarating. Not for nothing does he call this exciting outfit “The Art of Rhythm Trio”. It began with the ubiquitous Asaf Sirkis (he’s a member of my own fusion band Isorhythm, though securing his services is often very difficult – everyone wants him in their band!) jaw-droppingly chanting South Indian Konnakol rhythms in “Kanda Jhati”. Law responded in kind before the band erupted in joyous celebration of rhythm. Indeed, polyrhythmic tapestries of guitar, bass and percussion intertwinings, full of sudden metrical shifts, were endemic to the set as a whole. However, there were some lovely ambient and atmospheric moments too. Law tunes his guitar in perfect fourths instead of the more conventional perfect fiths. This enables him to play sophisticated and complicated chords which are impossible using the orthodox tuning. Paradoxically, simple triads are much harder to negotiate using this system. Before the performance he explained the differences in the two approaches but any guitar freak wishing to investigate Law’s modus operandi further should get hold of his book: 3rd Millennium Guitar: An Introduction to Perfect 4th Tuning.
And so another life-enhancing evening of diverse music drew to a close. After a late summer break in August, Jazz in the Round returns with an exciting programme beginning on September 28th
Reviewed by Geoff Eales
And so another life-enhancing evening of diverse music drew to a close. After a late summer break in August, Jazz in the Round returns with an exciting programme beginning on September 28th
Reviewed by Geoff Eales
