This intriguing “Pitch Black” performance was staged for the trio to play one set in absolute darkness, as homage to bandleader Jasper Høiby’s sister.

She sadly lost her sight and all in attendance were up for the challenge to start walking in her shoes, experiencing live music without being able to see the musicians, other faces in the crowd or anything else.

Surprisingly, it was Høiby himself who foiled the daring experiment. In mighty high spirits behind his bass, he kept the jokes rolling throughout the entire evening. It reduced the ordeal to a mere gimmick rather than sustaining it as a moving personal tribute. Fuelled by the audience’s continuous laughter, Høiby later went on to justifiably admit “If this Jazz thing fails, I can always go to do stand-up”.

The one Phronesis member who is certainly advised to stay on the scene is drummer Anton Eger. He displayed a mesmerizing presence, notable even after the lights went completely out. Eger was edgy without being careless and constantly provoked his main counterpart, pianist Ivo Neame, who eventually did match Eger’s ferociousness.

Together, they’ve yielded great passionate grooves out of Høiby’s shattered melodies. The band didn’t obtain any distinctively different sound than usual during those “Pitch Black” moments. However, the crowd’s behavior did alternate as it quickly adjusted to the new circumstance. Many were suddenly set free to act far less self-consciously than before. Folks gladly made a point of their hidden presence by roaring applause and occasional howling. Each time carried without anyone fearing of causing further disturbances.

A dull Q&A took place afterwards, featuring a panel discussion on the brain’s actual reaction to music under the dark. By then, half the audience had already left; suggesting that giving Phronesis standing ovations meant they have seen enough.

– Gabi Tartakovsky