Music / Jazz
Review: Vicky Tilson Quartet, Colston Hall
“This one’s called Only the Brave,” bassist Vicky Tilson announced before their opening number – and it was an apposite choice.
On a quiet evening in the Colston Hall Foyer the presence of two dedicated cider drinkers was going to be a challenge that could impede proceedings. The music started but became increasingly stilted as the pair danced and posed right at the edge of the low stage. Things ground to a halt until they were escorted from the building but the incident left an acknowledged tension that took its toll through several numbers until the band relaxed and found their groove.
Vicky Tilson’s compositions are an interesting hybrid of chamber jazz complexity and a jazz rock attitude, the latter emphasised by Stuart Fiddler’s guitar and the former in unusual time signatures and shifting structures. Swedish drummer Reinis Axelsson rode those changes admirably, while Tilson’s smartly-written bass lines somehow even gave an easy-rolling feel to the 11-time Headliving, making it a rhythm section showcase for Dee Byrne’s smooth-toned alto sax to joust with. Fiddler’s guitar solo playfully collaged riffs from Day Tripper, I’m So Glad, Voodoo Chile and other rock anthems.
Given the compositional intensity of the music the breezy swing of Pas Du Tout represented a relaxed interlude and showed the band finally at ease: Fiddler’s swinging guitar had a classic Wes Montgomery flavour and Byrne’s breathy playout solo added a fine yearning quality to the tune. Wrapping things up with the uninhibitedly funky The Kicker allowed all four players to let themselves go for a highly enjoyable blast of straight sax squalling, guitar soaring, bass driving and drum flailing grooving.
Despite the interruptions the band had given a good account of imminent CD Mojo Rising and, hopefully, will have other less disrupted opportunities to bring it to Bristol in the future.
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
