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May 2008
gig reviews

Sleepthief
Lotte Anker
Oriole
Ian Shaw
Pippo Matino
Puma
Eddie Parker's Twittering Machine
Arun Ghosh
Evelyn Petrova and Alexander Balanescu
Julian Siegel Quartet

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May 2008 gig reviews by Chris Parker

Oriole

Friday 9 May

Before taking up residence in Cadiz, Jonny Phillips had built up quite a following for his band Oriole, so it was good to see Æ and hear Æ that his absence from the UK scene had adversely affected neither his popularity Æ a decent-sized, appreciative crowd turned out on the hottest night of the year so far Æ nor his bandleading skills.

Oriole Æ a septet comprised of Phillips himself on acoustic guitar, Nick Ramm on piano, Pete Wareham on tenor (deputising for Ingrid Laubrock), Ruth Goller on electric bass, Ben Davis on cello, Seb Rochford on drums and Adriano Adewali Hauna on percussion Æ are justly celebrated for dispensing an original and affecting blend of folk and jazz, Phillips skilfully utilising a wide range of South American and other rhythms to gently propel his deceptively simple-sounding compositions.

Haunting, delicately wafting themes typically build easily and naturally to understated but none the less effective climaxes, taking in contributions from the frontline players on the way: Wareham, in complete contrast to his Final Terror role, played a series of carefully sculpted, plaintive solos; Davis ditto; Ramm subtly played with the rhythm in his piano features; Phillips was all filigree delicacy and unassuming grace when the solo spotlight was on him.

With the rhythm section also making vigorous but supple use of their solo opportunities, this was a pleasingly relaxed Æ and relaxing Æ performance from a band with an instantly identifiable and mesmerisingly attractive sound.

 

 

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