Founded by trumpeter Noel Langley and directed by Scott Stroman a professor in the jazz department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the London Jazz Orchestra has had a monthly residence at the Vortex since 1991.

Their September 2010 performance included Stroman’s reconstruction of John Coltrane’s 1961 Africa/Brass a suite to be performed during the second half.

The first part of the relaxed night generated a standard warm smooth sound that wrapped itself around the inside of the Vortex. A predictable point seemed to occur during the typical but nevertheless impressive improvised solos particularly from saxophone players Pete Hurt, Martin Hathaway and Martin Speake. Their solos seemed to grow to a point where they were churning out high-pitched short rhythmic motifs and while repeating the same idea desperately, when the rest of the ensemble grew rapidly behind the soloist, the soloist was left straining and fighting to reach a climax.

Overall quite a rigid performance from the band during the first half, although a refreshing moment occurred just before the interval when the band played Kenny Wheeler’s arrangement of ‘How Deep Is The Ocean’ featuring trumpeter Robbie Robson also a member of the Loop Collective.

Stroman’s long-awaited Coltrane-based suite featured saxophonist Josephine Davies’ assured way of playing contrasting with Pete Hurt’s extremely enigmatic style. Excitable Hurt seemed to be squealing with ease on the sax during the performance of ‘Africa’ creating several exhilarating moments. Another captivating musician was drummer Paul Clarvis; no irritating repetitive rhythms just plenty of space.

The highlight and finale, ‘Africa,’ involved the band freely improvising sounding like jungle animals. Powerful bursts of brass inevitably raised the hairs on the back of your neck and as the band conjured up mysterious, hypnotic and jarring sounds, they now seemed to be so much louder and looser. If only the first half had been this thrilling.

– Charlotte Keeffe