Andrew
McCormack (piano), Jason Yarde (alto & soprano saxophones), Emma Smith
(violin), Jennymay Logan (violin), Charles Cross (viola) & Laura Moody
(cello)
(Review by Russell)
Pianist Andrew McCormack and
Jason Yarde (reeds) established their duo partnership some six years ago and
subsequently visited Gateshead to perform at the Old Town Hall
McCormack and Yarde introduced
their compositions in an informative, informal manner, emphasising the
collaborative element of jazz and contemporary
new music. The Elysians specialise in the field of ‘experimental’ or ‘new’ music (they have
worked with Polar Bear). Improvised sections notated in the score freed the
string players from time to time as McCormack and Yarde, the natural
improvisers, developed ideas. The composers – the jazz players – conducted with
little more than a nod of the head. An enterprise such as this could only work
– and it did – with exceptionally talented musicians being fully committed to
it.
A feature of the performance was
the musicians’ clear enjoyment in performing the music. Yarde created
labyrinthine solos (alto and soprano), somehow finding his way out of the maze,
McCormack and the Elysians with him all the way. McCormack’s compositions –
typically percussive new-jazz/non-jazz repeated motifs – heard the Elysians immersed
in dense note clusters, the tension released with a change of direction by,
variously, one of the violins (Emma Smith and Jennymay Logan) or Charles Cross’
viola or the expressive cello playing of Laura Moody.
Jason Yarde, a born communicator,
looked across the auditorium and asked: How
about some audience participation? Yeah
was the overwhelming response (it should be stated that some of us, the
minority, do not go to jazz gigs to
have a good time!) and it took the form of members of the audience calling out
a note. D said one, G said another, E and so on. Then a number…9
(McCormack looked askance!), 2 said
another. Okay said Yarde. The sextet
would now create an instant composition based upon keys and time signatures as
suggested by the audience! McCormack and Yarde would do it, no doubt about it.
The Elysians? They too did it, consummate musicians all. How they did it is
beyond mere mortals (McCormack would shortly return to the stage to play
sensational swinging piano with Jean Toussaint – see LL’s review). Viola player
Charles Cross was a late dep in the Elysians’ line-up. He read his part off the
page. Top man Mr Cross! The McCormack-Yarde creative partnership would appear
to have much mileage left in it. It will be interesting to see which direction
they have taken the next time they park the tour bus at Sage Gateshead.
Russell.
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