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October 2007
gig reviews

Outhouse
Christine Tobin
Francois Theberge/Hans Koller Quartet
Mark Feldman Group
Mike Chillingworth Quartet
Andrea Vicari
Georgia Mancio
Lucien Dubois Crossover Trio
Centre Line
Mike Gibbs 70th birthday concert

Gig reviews archive

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October 2007 gig reviews by Chris Parker

Mark Feldman Group

Tuesday 16 October

US violinist Mark Feldman is becoming almost a regular at the Vortex; his gig with pianist Sylvie Courvoisier was simply one of the greatest performances yet seen at the new club.

On this occasion, he was promoting his latest ECM album, What Exit, and in pianist Huw Warren, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey, he has a band perfectly suited to his highly individualised approach.

He himself describes his music as a 'real organic integration of classical and modern jazz', and the structured freedom (if that's not an oxymoron) of the first piece, in which a tricksy, scurrying unison piano/violin theme was followed by acres of space and rubato extemporisation, perfectly fitted this description.

With Rainey bringing his trademark snappy percussive power to the mix, and Warren providing his characteristic blend of fluid lyricism and vigorous energy over Gress's multi-textured bass, Feldman was able to swoop and soar affectingly through his solo passages à if his aim is to avoid what he terms a 'frivolous crossover thing', he's succeeded triumphantly; with his music's slight tendency towards austerity successfully undercut both by the emotion he discernibly invests in it and by a witty stage presence, Feldman is a riveting performer, a man in complete command of his instrument and material. Another standout gig from a genuine original.

 

 

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