Jazzwise Magazine
Banner
The UK's Biggest Selling Jazz Magazine RSS
daily news features reviews current issue shop instrument reviews
gig guide video the player write stuff subscribe contact us
Andy Sheppard Quintet – Ronnie Scott’s, London 25/05/2009
User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 
Thursday, 11 June 2009 15:13
Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin and Yves Klein are artists whose work does not impact with a jolt, but permeates the inner mind to create a lasting impression. It would come as no surprise then that the Andy Sheppard Quintet, playing music inspired by these artists from their recent ECM release, conjured a similar affect.

Andy Sheppard, on tenor and soprano saxophones, led with his characteristically refined sensitivity to melodies and phrasing and a highly illustrative extended technique. His improvisation built conceptually on the groove driven themes of the compositions with simple interpretations shadowed by elevating melodic expansions that strayed into abstraction with supple overtones and dense harmonic sheets of sound. Two solos by guitarist John Parricelli on La Tristesse Du Roi and Bing thrilled in their understated but highly intelligent construction, evoking Joe Pass, through Al Di Meola and Pat Metheny. He injected rhythmic stimulation into various passages of play by coherently executing off-beat harmonic incisions. Eivind Aarset, on guitar and electronics, employed a judicious measure of haunting echoes and blankets of electronic swells.

The charismatic muscularity in both the tone and delivery of Arild Andersen’s double bass playing drove proceedings as if to compensate for the rhythm section’s stripped-down profile. Kuljit Bhamra on tabla, supplemented by cymbals and other percussive instruments, performed the anchor role with concise rhythmic patterns upon which the pieces evolved. It was principally Bhamra however, who cultivated the group’s distinctive character by sourcing multi-continental influences.  

A perfectionist might find fault in an excessively formulaic delivery of the compositions. However given the quality of the music such as complaint would not travel far. “You’re all looking beautiful,” remarked Mr. Sheppard with evident appreciation of the comment’s clichéd nuance. The beauty of this night however, belonged very much to the aural rather than the visual realm.

Review: Joseph Kassman-Tod
Comments
Only registered users can write comments!

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

 
news
features
features
features
reviews
UK Jazz Venues
UK Jazz Venues
Pizza Express Jazz Club London (1871)
Vortex Jazz Club London (1664)
606 Club London (1609)
Ronnie Scotts London (1597)
Hideaway Streatham (350)
Swansea Jazzland Swansea (316)
Matt & Phred's Jazz Club Manchester (242)
Pizza on the Park London (237)
St Ives Jazz Club St Ives (219)
Wakefield Sports Club Wakefield (188)
Barbican Hall London (171)
Komedia Studio Bar Brighton (165)
Friends Life Social Club Dorking (151)
The Spin Oxford (125)
Seven Arts Leeds Leeds (115)
Octave Bar London (107)
Charlie Wright's London (105)
The Stables Theatre Wavendon (101)
Symphony Hall Foyer Birmingham (100)
The Sage Gateshead (95)
Cafe Oto London (93)
Purcell Room London (90)
Watermill Jazz Dorking (86)
Matt & Phred's Manchester (83)
The Dysart Arms Surrey (74)
The Oxford Pub London (74)
The Sands Venue Gainsborough (72)
The Bell Hotel Clare (67)
Cheltenham Town Hall Cheltenham (66)
Boisdale's Canary Wharf (64)
Millennium Hall Sheffield (62)
National Theatre Foyer South Bank SE1 (61)
The Forge London (55)
Band on the Wall Manchester (54)
The Jazz Bar Edinburgh (54)
Spice Of Life London (53)
Jagz Ascot (51)
Orange Street Music Club Canterbury (51)
Joogleberry Playhouse Brighton (50)
Turner Sims Hall Southampton (49)
The Beaver Inn Appledore (48)
Royal Festival Hall London (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall (47)
Queen Elizabeth Hall London (46)
Lauderdale House Waterlow Park London (45)
Villandry Bar London (44)
Kings Place London (44)
Leeds College of Music Leeds (44)
Bonington Theatre Nottingham (44)
Jazz Café London (42)
Jazzwise magazine - digital edition
Jazzwise Branded App

Live Twitter Feed

2012 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Jazzwise E-newsletter

Jazzwise E-News
Be the first on your block to know what's in the next issue of Jazzwise by signing up to the Online Magazine Newsletter

 
instrument guide