Graeme Norris Quartet at Foundry 616.
Graeme lives in New York, dresses in a smart suit and looks a lot like Robert de Niro from a few years back. I had visions of Liza Minnelli joining him on stage and launching into New York, New York or of the band playing theme music from Taxi Driver. However, Graeme Norris plays serious jazz. He has performed with Eartha Kitt, Jerry Lewis, Frankie Valli, Tom Burlinson, James Morrison, Emma Pask and Monica Trapaga. The quartet was tight & sophisticated, and my fantasies were replaced by a great night of music.
Listening to quality jazz in the small venue, Foundry 616, is a rewarding experience. The technical skill of these musicians and their ability to respond and interact with each other is world class and deserves a bigger audience.
The band was introduced with a request to switch phones to silent and to refrain from checking them during the sets as the light is distracting. We were also requested to avoid loud conversation when the band is performing. Foundry 616 takes its jazz seriously and expects its audience to be similarly inclined.
The band opened with a couple of fast paced numbers, Saucy Eyes & Plain Jane, before moving onto some slower & smoother numbers. One of Graeme’s own composition, Pummice Stones, was sweet and melodious. Initially the focus was on Graeme & his tenor sax before the focus shifted to the interactions between the different musicians. The individual musicians were then given opportunities to explore themes with extensive solos before the band would come back together and finish as a cohesive unit. Carl Dewhurst featured extensively on guitar. A lot of his work is fast and innovative but he also displays a mellow side when required. A band needs a good bass to drive it along and Ashley Turner takes his role seriously and makes an intense contribution. Andrew Dickeson’s drumming is skilful and highly entertaining and he is clearly having a great time.
Other songs in the first set were If I Love Again and Bud Powell’s Strictly Confidential. Graeme offered the advice to the audience to listen to Bud Powell. He doesn’t want him to be forgotten or underrated.
The second set featured a few more standards. Graeme is happy to play standards because they are good. Songs included Sonny Rollin’s Valse Hot, Graeme’s own vibrant composition, East Village Sublet, the mellow Like Someone in Love, the up tempo Too Marvellous for Words, an untitled self-composition and finished off with an uplifting calypso song by Tommy Flanagan called Eclypso.
The Graeme Norris Quartet performed at Foundry 616 [Facebook] Thursday 16th August. Graeme is returning to New York to record an album and plans on returning to Australia again next year.