(Review/photos courtesy of Ken Drew)
This is more of a photo-review than full review, but this performance deserves a mention, not least because it's the first time Jazz North East has had a visiting musician from Portugal. Also, as the first of a two-venue-only visit to the UK (two days after meeting at The Bridge, they played the Vortex in London) Luís Vicente is playing for the first time in the UK with Jazz North East favourites Olie Brice on double bass and Mark Sanders on percussion.
So, all three are well established in their own right, but what kind of fireworks could be expected? The pre-performance info was true to form: "Like so many leading young players, Vicente has absorbed the languages of free jazz and more structured forms and moves seamlessly between the approaches”; American critic Ken Waxman has written that "His brass sensibility calls upon the free playing of Don Cherry and the free bop of Freddie Hubbard in equal measure. Vicente also shares with others of his generation an open sensibility that regards musical compatibility through his many European collaborations. The three of them have common ground in working at continental festivals, but this gig is part of their first ever UK tour as a trio, providing a wonderful opportunity for the Newcastle audience to be introduced to one of the rising stars of not just Portuguese or European, but of world jazz."
And so it was! All three established a strong rapport from the off, each gave superb demonstrations of their mastery of their respective instruments, and combined perfectly to produce a wonderfully seamless sonic performance. Two very intense but engaging sets, with three world-class improvisers, right on our doorstep! Just what it said on the tin!!
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