Marius Neset (tenor & soprano saxophones)
& Daniel Herskedal (tuba)
(Review by Russell).
Two years ago Marius Neset was the
hot ticket at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival. The Norwegian’s
performance that day polarised opinion – unreservedly brilliant (the audience
response ecstatic), others unmoved. At this year’s festival at Sage Gateshead
Neset returned to work with tuba player Daniel Herskedal. The duo opened the
show for the Spring Quartet.
Two figures on the vast stage in
Hall One – Herskedal obscured from view behind a gleaming coil of brass
plumbing – focused the attention. Neset, lean, agile, revealed another side to
his playing. The firebrand of two years ago now subdued, the context very
different; rhythm section absent, a vulnerable musical partner alongside. The
opening number, a gentle Norwegian folk song, heard Neset fleet of finger on
tenor, mindful of melody, conscious of Herskedal’s feather weight sound. The
duo’s original compositions (Neset switching between tenor and soprano) were heard,
so too other Nordic melodies and a folk tune from another continent – from the
African jazz great Abdullah Ibrahim. Post performance opinion divided. Praise
for Herskedal universal, Neset an acquired taste. The reeds man seemingly
cannot win – firebrand showman or the considered filigree statement – that’s
jazz. Neset’s Hall One appearance is sure to have won him a host of new fans,
his duo with Herskedal sure to be an enduring partnership. Next time, which
Neset will turn up? We shall see.
Russell.
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