GIJF: Malija @ Sage Gateshead April 17

Mark Lockheart (tenor & soprano saxophones, bass clarinet), Liam Noble (piano) & Jasper Høiby (double bass)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew)

Another gig, another overlapping performance scenario. Out of one hall, into another. Malija is/are a quality act. Acoustic chamber jazz, Malija improvise on original tunes with myriad influences reaching back to early Ellingtonia. The Northern Rock crowd listened intently, the quality of musicianship of the highest standard.

The trio played tunes from the recently released album The Day I Had Everything and their quiet, elegant improvisations illustrated the point that jazz doesn’t have to be the over-amplified endurance test often encountered at a gig (as thrilling as that can be). A feature of the music is Jasper Høiby’s sound. The bassist’s accomplished technique is impressive in itself but it is his sound that marks him out - resonant, woody, heard best here at Sage Gateshead in the excellent acoustics of the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.

Almost a Tango and the title track from the album were two highlights in an enjoyable, well-received festival set. Mark Lockheart works across the spectrum, Malija being the polar opposite of some of his full-on projects and pianist Liam Noble, involved earlier with Phil Meadows’ large-scale work in Sage One, engaged fully in the improvisations.          

Russell.