Zany costumes, fantastical on-stage theatrics and surrealist concept albums may not be the first things that spring to mind when you think of contemporary jazz – yet there's something of a 'proggy' scent in the air. This week Jazz on 3 explores the notion that 'prog' is back: featuring performances from British experimentalists TrioVD and Shatner's Bassoon, plus Dutch group Tin Men and the Telephone – the band names alone seem fitting enough for a 21st-century prog renaissance to me!
Whilst TrioVD give the flamboyant stage outfits a miss, there's certainly a heavy sense of drama that runs through the veins of everything they do. Recorded at last year's Match and Fuse Festival, they whipped up the crowd with a mix of high-energy riffing, effects, screeching saxophone and, well... their own screeching and shouting too. Guitarist Chris Sharkey and drummer Chris Bussey really lay down the rock with their distorted chugging, whilst Christophe de Bezenac's wailing alto sax adds an intensity that allows the music to flip on its head at any frenzied moment.
Fellow Leeds-based sextet Shatner's Bassoon share a similar sense of explosive eccentricity – but their brazen theatrics and Zappa-esque humour take them to a different realm of skewed and surreal. They navigate from tightly scripted passages through to openings of foreboding free improv. Watch out for guitarist Craig Scott doubling on some intriguing circuit-bent toy instruments during moments of fun. Dutch piano trio Tin Men And The Telephone complete our triad of performances and whilst the rock element is less present this time, they're a band who certainly know a quirky concept when they see one.
So is prog really back? Journalist Stephen Graham talks to other musicians and fellow 'prog-ophiles' to consider the term 'prog-jazz', and ponders whether the resurgence is here to stay or simply a fleeting fashion. Along the way he bumps into Dave Morecroft of World Service Project, a showman who's not afraid of a dip in the costume box:
Listen to Dave Morecroft & Giggles The Clown
Join me for this programme on Monday 22 July from 11pm, or listen online for seven days after broadcast.
Jez
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on Twitter '@BBCJazzon3'.
