The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8JH | Bookings 020 7254 4097 | Enquiries 020 7993 3643 | Email Info at Vortex

December 2007
gig reviews

Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra
Damon Brown/Yutaka Shiina Quartet
Max Grunhard Sextet
The TransAtlantic Collective
Christine Tobin
Eclectica

Gig reviews archive

 2008 gig reviews
 2007 gig reviews
 2006 gig reviews

 


 

December gig reviews by Chris Parker

Max Grunhard Sextet

Wednesday 5 December

After the SRO audiences that thronged the club during the London Jazz Festival, it was a mite disappointing to see that only around a dozen people had assembled to hear one of Australia's finest, alto player Max Grunhard, with his sextet, but the man himself seemed undeterred, and performed as if to a full house.

Grunhard has a grainy, passionately eloquent tone that occasionally brings Gato Barbieri to mind, but his solos, whether springing from the relatively simple, insinuatingly gentle horn-chorale-like heads he favours or from the odd sprightlier sequence, are more likely to include 'outside' passages than the Argentinian's.

His sextet sound is a beguiling one: in addition to Grunhard's alto, baritone saxophone and trumpet operate in attractive close harmony on the heads, then the solo baton passes at a relaxed pace right round the band, occasionally incorporating the odd piece of electronica, as seems to be the contemporary fashion.

Texture is consequently just as important to the band's overall approach as straightforward propulsiveness, but when required, a considerable head of steam can be built up in garrulous climaxes that contrast nicely with the sextet's quieter moments. An intriguing night's music that deserved a larger audience.

 

 

Join the Vortex
email list

To receive monthly gig details, news and ticket offers.



RSS feeds

For news, gig and CD reviews and information about the club.

Click on the link below to get the subscribe address
Vortex news

For more informaton about RSS see the
RSS help pages