Music / big band
The week in Jazz August 7-13
So how do you like your sophisticated saxophone-led modern jazz, then? Straight no chaser? Or served up with a massive dollop of improvised mayhem for dessert? Your answer will determine your choice between two really tempting gigs next Sunday (13).
Firstly there’s Brouhaha at the Hen & Chicken, a trio fronted by Loop Collective musician Sam Crockatt. Sam has emerged both as a writer of smart tunes and a fine sax player with a classic tenor sound. With bass ace Riaan Vosloo and drummer Dave Smith making up the band some sophisticated reinterpretations of Sam’s music can be expected.
Damop Suzuki – can he fix it? Yes, he Can.
Similar things could be said of Dave Perry who brings his eponymous Trio to the Exchange on the same night – Dave’s cool and stylish playing and catchy compositions always a treat. However the bonus factor here (if you dig this kind of thing) is that he’s providing the support for Japanese vocal improviser Damo Suzuki who will be assembling a one-off gathering of locally sourced ‘sound carriers’ for the night. Formerly vocalist of Krautrock behemoth Can, Damo’s vocals are delivered in an unrecognisable language and the music attempts to work with his spontaneous utterances.
Lucky Chops (spot the imposter)
Saxophonist Pete Canter gets to bring three chums, two saxophones and a bunch of new material when his Quartet comes to The Fringe (Wednesday 9). Strong on melody and clear of tone on soprano and tenor he’s become a distinctive presence on the UK scene. Plenty of honking baritone sax will be rocking the Thekla on Tuesday (8) with the arrival of Lucky Chops, another livewire busking brass and drums outfit from New York. Following on the heels of the more established Too Many Zooz it will be interesting to see how their stuff compares.
Nomade Orchestra passing through Canteen
One of many fine jazz moments at the recent WOMAD festival came from Nomade Orquestra, a big band from Sao Paolo, Brazil, who will be squeezing onto the stage at Canteen this week (Thursday 10). Hopefully they’ll have left it nice and clear for funk-jazz combo Jackson to preview their imminent new EP on Friday (11). They’ll complete a jazz hat-trick at Canteen as the very groovy Osmoid will be there on Wednesday (9). You have two chances to catch that organ duo this week, too, as they are also playing at the Gallimaufry the day before (Tuesday 8).
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