Many visitors to Soho will be aware of its historical connection to the Jazz music scene. On Dean Street, the Pizza Express has for years been a part of this scene with its own basement jazz club playing live music seven days a week. Many famous artists have taken to its stage whilst patrons enjoy a slice, and the Will Barnes Quartet had the opportunity to showcase their music on a prime Sunday evening slot, writes Christopher Peacock.
The quartet hail from Mid-Wales, and like any artist have naturally taken inspiration from their surroundings, hence the majority of the set was from their debut album “Source of the Severn” and the most notable numbers came in the shape of Mad March Hare and the titular track whose dancing melodies, matched with smooth tempo changes, were the most engaging of the night.
The band’s set didn’t just consist of their own compositions, though. A couple of jazz standards and an interesting cover of the Stevie Wonder-written Michael Jackson song, I Can’t Help It, filled out the evening’s playlist.
The quartet is made up of Will Barnes on guitar, Jack Gonsalez on Piano, Clovis Phillips on Bass and James Batten on Drums. Even with some playing on house instruments they all had the low energy and introverted ease that sets jazz musicians apart from their rock/pop counterparts. Will Barnes was also charmingly comfortable with the patter between numbers.
The dual melodies in Barnes’ writing is where the band seem most fluid as they mould their contemporary jazz stylings. Although all skilful musicians, it is Barnes’ fretboard mastery that is the hook that catches your ear.
This is the band’s first gig in London and for the want of some cool jazz on a hot evening we hope they return soon.
