Concert date: Thursday 19th June
Brewery Arts in Kendal is really turning up the heat for jazz in the area. A successful series of concerts throughout the spring season and the recent launch of the Jazz Club in the venues Malt Room local jazz enthusiast and visitors to the Lake District have been treated to some excellent music.
With audience numbers exceptionally positive, all the events I have attended have seen virtually full houses, and this was indeed the case for the eagerly awaited concert by the Neil Cowley Trio.
After attaining cult status since their formation 2006, pianist Cowley decided to disband the trio to concentrate on his own solo projects. After a hiatus of seven years, the trio reconvened in 2024 for to record a new album and embark on a series of live performances that on the evidence heard here have been most welcome.
With the original trio of Cowley, double bassist Rex Horan and Evan Jenkins on drums back together, the trio spent a week in the studio recording their album Entity released in September last year, and material from the recording was naturally strongly featured in last week’s concert.
The first set opened (as does the album) with ‘Marble’ that began with a solo piano introduction from Cowley to joined gradually by the other members of the trio. First to be heard bas bassist Horan who strong and woody tone on the instrument was a delight to hear. As the duo of bass and piano developed the melody further drummer Evan Jenkins made his entry and bringing some delicate and intricate patterns to the fore with his use of mallets. What would prove to be fascinating throughout the evening music making was how the three musi8cians were able to build and tension over the course of any given composition only to stop abruptly and thus breaking the spell.
With Jenkins switching to brushes in an equally compelling contribution we were treated to another composition from Entity in ‘Lemon Meringue’ that found Neil Cowley working off a motif that gradually evolve through a process of repetition and subtle yet discernible change.
This method of developing compositions into thoroughly satisfying musical episodes could also be heard on ‘Fable’ that the pianist humorously described as one of the trio’s “hits” that would be cropping up throughout the evening. The piano and bass unison that was a prominent part of ‘Fable’ was accompanied and encouraged by Jenkins ever more intricate drumming that morphed in a ‘solo’ of considerable power.
The trio brought the first set to a close by playing three contrasting compositions with the rollling piano figures on ‘Sparkling’, and the dynamic and percussive left hand bassline from Cowley with bass and drums propelling the music along at a furious pace on ‘The Sharks of Competition’ before bringing the music back to earth with ‘Entity’ performed at a ballad tempo that still managed to incorporate gently swirling piano figures and a stately bassline from Horan.
Picking up from where they had left off, the second set commenced with the gentle and melodic ‘Queen’ prior to the brisk tempo of ‘Vice Skating with a barrage of drums giving way to a solo segment to the pianist before finding its way back to the theme. The followed the beautiful ‘Father Daughter’ that again made the opening three pieces nicely contrasting in mood and texture.
Throughout the concert the music was totally absorbing, so much so that it was easy to get to caught up in the moment and only after the event realise the virtuosity that went into playing such complex music. Drummer Jenkins was a marvel, and from where I was sat was able to watch each and every movement as he effortlessly created intricate patterns that shaped the music. Cowley gave his most ‘out’ solo of the night on the exhilarating ‘How Do We Catch Up’, and Rex Horan delighted us with some excellent playing, both pizzicato and arco on ‘V&A’.
Being called back for encores must be an occupational hazard for the trio, and indeed after having some members of the audience applauding and their feet, an ecore was duly provided in the melodically and rhythmically catchy ‘The Face of Mount Mole Hill’ that rounded off a most enjoyable evening from a band that one can only describe as a great live act!
