Dominic J Marshall Trio @ King’s Hall, Newcastle Uni. Nov 27

Dominic J Marshall (piano), Sam Vicary (electric bass) & Sam Gardner (drums)

(Review by Russell).

Pianist Dominic J Marshall left it late. The King’s Hall audience stood in the corridors as DJM and co. completed a swift soundcheck. The twenty five year old Scot, resident in Amsterdam, makes frequent trips to the UK to link up with the two Sams – Vicary, the bass player and Gardner, the in demand drummer.

This Newcastle performance followed an appearance at the Vortex – from small space to large, the latter an unforgiving barn of a place. DJM at the Steinway grand sounded fine, Vicary’s muffled Fender bass less so. The King’s Hall acoustic doesn’t work too well with amplified instruments, in fact, as one observer commented: It doesn’t work well with any instruments! Marshall is currently into unexplained ancient events and a consequence of this interest is his writing is inspired by such things. No matter, he can write a tune and improvise on it. One or two numbers in today’s programme came out of the EST school of composition; repetitive, non-swinging hooks. Other material had short swing time sections, coming and going, amidst ever-changing time signatures.

A primary school class from the West End of Newcastle has taken up residence on the floor every Thursday lunchtime in King’s Hall. Keen listeners, will some of them take inspiration and strive to be the next generation of music students? The more mature in the hall appeared less responsive to DJM. A generation gap perhaps, but one thing for sure is Messrs Marshall, Vicary and Gardner can play.  

Russell.