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

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December gig reviews by Chris Parker

The TransAtlantic Collective

Monday 10 December

Alto player Patrick Cornelius's last visit to the Vortex saw him sharing front-line duties with guitarist Phil Robson, and the latter was billed as a guest on this occasion, but was mysteriously not present when the quintet à completed by the UK's Quentin Collins (trumpet), NY-based Frenchman Dan Tepfer (piano), US-born bassist Michael Janisch and Luxembourg's Paul Wiltgen (drums) à took the stage.

The collective (appropriately named, since composing duties are shared throughout the band) specialise in tricksy, subtle pieces that play with both time and texture, but since this was the final gig of a 20-date European tour, they were able to negotiate same with wit and aplomb, even the fiercely complex rearrangements and compositions of Wiltgen giving them no apparent problems.

Cornelius is both amusing spokesman and front-line focus, his alto at once fierce, passionate and agile, ripping through the material's often complicated changes as if addressing the most straightforward blues; Collins was, as usual, highly impressive, confident yet sensitive, his tone mostly bright and flaring, yet tastefully subdued where necessary.

In Tepfer, the band has a witty, thoughtful pianist, his solos slow-building but powerful, and with the consistently lively Janisch and the springily propulsive Wiltgen pushing proceedings along, this was a sharp, vigorous yet absorbing evening's music from a band clearly at ease with both itself and its material; it was recorded, so those who missed it might like to look for the forthcoming SunlightSquare live album.

 

 

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