Home » Jazz Articles » Live Review » Neil Cowley Trio at Norwich Arts Centre

114

Neil Cowley Trio at Norwich Arts Centre

By

Sign in to view read count
Neil Cowley Trio
Norwich Arts Centre
Norwich, England
April 11, 2008

Jazz pianist Horace Silver once released an album called Jazz Has a Sense of Humor. No one on the contemporary scene seems to embody that statement more than pianist Neil Cowley and his trio (Richard Sadler, bass; Evan Jenkin, drums). His piano style could be seen as the antithesis of the E.S.T. school, with Cowley proffering more of a rock-oriented approach but with moments of beauty nonetheless, and some funky and crucially funny grooves.

Live on stage Neil Cowley appears totally relaxed, totally embraced by the music. His formidable technique truly swings, and his interplay—both musically and verbally with band and audience—was a joy. Cowley seems to take delight in his often drum-heavy, piano-pounding (but thankfully not a la Jamie Cullum) take on the piano trio putting many more conservative listeners off, recalling the now well-known story of how a less than impressed critic unwittingly gave them the title of the new album (Loud.. Louder... Stop), a reminder of how audiences are prone to leave half-way through their gigs.

Thankfully, such was not the case on this occasion, with everyone seemingly loving the concert as much as Cowley and his excellent musicians themselves. With his roots in dance music, Cowley knows how to capture the intensity, anger, joy and laughter of such kinetic music, wrap them in 21st century melodies, where rhythm is crucial—and if the drums sometimes seem to drown out the piano, that's the point— and throw this mix out to an audience no doubt much wider than that of his contemporaries.

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.