Ingrid & Christine Jensen with the Whirlwind Recordings Jazz Orchestra @ the Purcell Room, EFG London Jazz Festival, Nov. 23.

(Review by Patrick Hadfield/photo courtesy of Michael Lamb)

This concert was a treat on so many levels. I'm a sucker for a big band, and this one, made up of musicians on the Whirlwind Recordings label, was a special delight.

Lead by Canadian sisters Ingrid and Christine Jensen,much of the music was featured on their recent Whirlwind album, "Infinitude", arranged for the big band by Christine, as well as compositions by Kenny Wheeler, saxophonist Josephine Davies, and Carla Bley. The arrangements were full of rich textures and brought to mind the work of Maria Schneider. There were moments of quiet space as well as sonorous depth. Ingrid and Christine took turns in  directing the orchestra.

Ingrid used an array of effects pedals on her trumpet to manipulate and loop her sound, notably on Wheeler's Starbright, which also featured a beautiful impressionistic piano solo by Alcyona Mick, whose playing was excellent throughout.

The sisters more or less took turns soloing - it was very much their show. But the orchestra was full of soloists too, each of them bandleaders in their own right. The wealth of talent in the band meant some voices were heard less than I'd have hoped for but they could have played for hours and I'd still have wanted more.

Several members of the band had to wait for the last number of the second set, Christine's composition and arrangement, Wink, a fast number which let the soloists soar. Rory Ingham led with a lively trombone solo, and then Tori Freestone took the reins with a fast, passionate tenor solo. Excellent contributions followed from Andre Canniere on trumpet and Jacob Cooper on trombone, and then Ryan Quigley's trumpet took things higher and higher as the band roared behind him.

They came back for an encore, a soft, gentle arrangement by Christine of Carla Bley's Once which brought us gently back down to earth. Whirlwind's supremo, Mike Janisch, who was playing bass, has created a label full of exciting musicians; building a big band around them made for an exciting evening. I hope it's not a one-off, and we get another chance to hear them.

Patrick H

Ingrid Jensen – trumpet: Christine Jensen - alto and soprano sax.

Trumpets and Flugelhorns: Nick Smart; Ryan Quigley; Andre Canniere

Trombones: Rory Ingham; Jacob Cooper; Richard Henry (bass trombone) 
Saxophones: Tori Freestone - tenor sax; Josephine Davies - tenor sax and clarinet; Rachael Cohen - alto sax and clarinet; Alex Garnett - baritone sax

Rhythm Section: Alcyona Mick - piano; Dave Preston - guitars; Michael Janisch - double bass; Klemens Marktl - drums