Emmet Cohen Trio @ Wigmore Hall, London - Dec. 10

Emmet Cohen (piano); Philip Norris (double bass); Kyle Poole (drums)

The pandemic. What was it good for? Absolutely nothing...except for the proliferation of the lockdown livestream. Logging on in the early hours to watch online sessions from various cities across America, not least New York, helped to connect jazz fans from all over the world. Monday night Live from Emmet's Place became required viewing. Emmet Cohen, his rhythm section and a week-to-week guest list of some of NYC's finest talents 'in concert' from the pianist's Harlem apartment won Cohen, Samara Joy and others an international following.

Emmet Cohen made it to a sold out Ronnie Scott's (Oct. 2021), and this week, on the first date of a European tour, our man walked out onto stage at Wigmore Hall. The capacity audience roared like never before. Cohen, bassist Philip Norris and drummer Kyle Poole soaked up the applause. It took a while before Cohen was able to address his audience. Wow!

Vincent Youmans' Time on My Hands opened the show (a performance which would span all of ninety minutes plus a finger-busting encore), the musicianship off the scale, the applause deafening. An engaging character, Cohen's enthusiasm bubbled over - an enthusiasm for performance, the abilities of his bandmates - Philip Norris and long-time buddy Kyle Poole - and a deep respect for the tradition with an eye/ear to the future (Cohen's 2021 album Future Stride a neat summation of where the pianist was and is). Cohen's Lion Song tipped his hat to Willie 'the Lion' Smith, a Tatum-esque Tea for Two, half an hour in and the applause generated by the Wigmore Hall audience upped the decibel level to ear-splitting heights.

Tchaikovsky held no fears - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Cohen's sole concession to the fast approaching season of goodwill etc) dazzled, the telepathic interplay between all three musicians scarcely believable. Cohen, a generous spirit, delighted in Norris and Poole grabbing their share of the limelight - the decibel counter threatening to explode, such was the applause. Wow!

Ninety minutes flew by. The Emmet Cohen Trio departed the scene. A standing ovation followed. Cohen, Norris and Poole returned to the stage. Finger Buster has to be one to be avoided...unless you're Emmet Cohen. In a display of dazzling virtuosity, Cohen embraced the giants of jazz piano - Morton, Willie 'the Lion', Oscar et al, quoting, referencing, seemingly encompassing the entire history of jazz piano. Quite remarkable. Russell 

       

Set list included: Time on My Hands; Lion Song; Tea for Two; Heart and Soul; Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy; Satin Doll; Finger Buster.