sound lounge - friday night - a favourite time and place
got there way too early and first into the room
advantage being the best seat in the house was secured
smack bang centre-front all but on the actual stage
by show-time the place was sadly less than half-full
leading me again to despair the irony of this situation
world-leading (and loved) musicians playing in their hometown
but largely ignored by their very many fellow citizens
alister spence is an accomplished pianist, composer and noise-maker
lloyd swanton on double-bass would be rated number 1 in australia
toby hall on drums, percussion and glockenspiel would not be far behind
this trio has been invited to play at the tokyo jazz festival
presumably meaning they will perform in front of large crowds
but tonight there's a few of us ready and willing to lap it up
things start gently and even tentatively with the first tune
being so close to the stage reveals some fine-tuning on stage
as the musicians discreetly adjust various settings and settle in
but all the time confirming their skill set and connection
the next tune luminescence sees the band really crank it up
3 musicians hard at work pulling all sorts of noises
there's a great energy to be had with a piano/bass/drum combo
that on a good night means a real transcendence can be enjoyed
as the melody, beat, and rhythm takes over the headspace
but then as in this case add another 3 channels of input
with each musician using imaginative noise-making techniques
and the result is almost overwhelming in it's originality
alister spence has no fear of adding any noise to the mix
on occasions he would stand and hammer the strings of the grand piano
at other times he would fire up the sampler and add textures
noises like the wind in trees, or a boiling kettle were heard
lloyd swanton circling the palm of his hand on the bass
toby hall dragging drumsticks over cymbals
his skills on the glockenspiel also evident at times
so an amazing musical intensity was achieved fairly quickly
and by the end of the first set of 3 or 4 songs it was clear this was special
confirmed by the large smiles and happy exchanges on stage
certainly it was good for us all to have a break and prepare for part 2
which was another set of 3 or 4 tunes delivered stunningly
the standout tune being a track titled mercury from the latest album
opening with a set of improvisation that had me hooked
then in the formal piece i was playing a favourite game
relax the body, close eyes, let go, crank up the hi-fi
acknowledge that at this time there is no better place to be
then open the eyes and see what is right in front of you
brings a smile to my face every time it happens
and in this case a smile coming back from the stage
lots of those as the lads obviously also enjoyed the night
which to me is the best thing about this kind of music
they love what they do and they do it brilliantly
just a real pleasure to be a witness to this magic
pha! who needs a crowd anyway?
the bank manager mostly i suspect
here's hoping japan embraces them
they thoroughly deserve it
new album soon too
....great
