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| (© Ken Drew) |
Whilst co-promoted by Jazz North East and the Tyneside Irish Festival, this concert didn’t attract a sizeable audience, which is a shame not least because they had travelled some distance to perform, and it turned out to be an excellent night, albeit surprising in many ways.
I must admit I thought I was ready for something ‘different’ after reading Paul Bream’s Jazz Alert: The music of the Aonghus McEvoy Group sits at several removes from either ‘conventional’ jazz or Irish folk traditions, although there are hints of both……. listening to tracks from the group’s album ‘Under & Cracked’ is a thoroughly gripping experience, with the very fact that the music evolves in unexpected directions commanding and rewarding close listening and so was highly recommended.
Quite so, although it took me a while to appreciate the full extent of what they were about. Moving between segments of repetitive solo guitar to repetitive segments of full-on group interplay, there were moments in which to catch your breath, but many moments when you couldn’t quite do that – due to the pace and loudness - occasionally too loud for my ears. Sadly for me it was the drums which were excessively loud, matched by a just-audible viola player. The guitar was quite rightly prominent with McEvoy demonstrating superb skills on acoustic and electric, with the bass supporting well.
The musicianship and interplay on display was greatly received, and several of the audience on exit at the end, greatly appreciated the night. Thanks Paul for raising the expectations, and thanks to the band for expanding our musical horizons. Ken Drew
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