The sight of Patrick Stewart, Adrian Lester and Tony Robinson, discreet but nonetheless radiating charisma amid muted gasps of recognition, brings a BAFTA-esque frisson to the air.
Election night fervour may have been evident elsewhere but this small-ish audience sought their pleasure [or consolation] in the relatively sober company of Still Waters, a Henry Lowther-led quintet of some standing.
It should be no real surprise that French avant-prog originals Magma build such a commanding presence in London’s Cadogan Hall – a venue usually associated with classical music concerts.
The swoop and skitter of dubstep over the PA, and clouds of swirling haze on the stage, seem to set the scene for some edgy underground pop act; GoGo Penguin take to the stage, amid cheers from the sell-out crowd, reassuringly dressed down in jeans and t-shirts and looking more like the music students they were before their swift ascent to Mercury-nominated status.
Squeezed into a packed house, last night I watched this refreshingly different jazz band present their latest album, -isq too.
Already hailed as one of the best 10 jazz albums of 2015 by The Telegraph and having being pronounced Album of the Week by the Evening Standard, bandleader Clément Régert was naturally in high spirits the night of his album launch at the Polish Culture Centre’s fantastic West London jazz club earlier this month.
Rain stopped play, well, almost. Or intermittently, at least.
Spring heralds the welcome arrival of many elusive species to the coast; this is the second appearance this year by rarely-sighted Sussex altoist Geoff Simkins (pictured top), the first being his memorable double-header with Bobby Wellins at the inaugural South Coast Jazz Festival in January.
The second set did not get underway especially auspiciously, drummer Tim Giles having seemingly mislaid his pint, reluctantly abandoning the search in order to join the other members of the band onstage.
Dave O’Higgins takes to the stage wearing a natty brown pinstripe and an air of unshakeable confidence; behind him, Geoff Gascoyne exudes a similarly relaxed gravitas on bass; it’s apparent that these gentlemen mean business.
