Jonathan Gee Quartet

Review by Emily.

This talented quartet certainly entertained, showcasing scat singing, solos and skill in the stylish surroundings of St Mary’s hub. Playing music from their own compositions, such as ‘Starfish’ as well as jazz-infused Beatle numbers, my attention was passed from one musician to the next. The tempo from the drummer (Tom Hooper) held the audience -slowing then speeding up – and fingers danced purposefully across the keys of each instrument in spell-binding fashion.

There was a sense of strong collaboration within this band. Jazz itself is a fusion of conflict and compromise, of taking the lead and pulling back, of listening and communicating. The variety of songs was engaging: whilst ‘Here, There, Everywhere’ involved gliding up and down the length of a piano, ‘Across the Universe’ was considerably more gentle, slow and melodic. ‘Come Together’ was a piece which I especially liked, beginning with rapid drum riffs before the double bass smoothly hummed out the famous base line.

The Jonathan Gee Quartet was effortlessly dazzling and quietly masterful, calmly seizing your attention with beautifully intangible streaks of sound.