TRISH CLOWES QUARTET 'MY IRIS' AT HIDDEN ROOMS
Trish Clowes rising star in the Jazz World
All this classy insightful photography by the exceptional snappy Mike Harris
The Quintessence of Cool Trish Clowes and her band ( mysteriously named ‘My Iris”) stamp the Modern into Modern Jazz Club - and still manage to charm an audience. It took a while. Her gig at last night’s Hidden Rooms – the super funky venue - was a slow burn.
But that all changed magically as Trish and her fellow improvisers dove into a second number and evoked her own wonderful sound world , unique and creative. Trish now frustrated with the material on offer, has composed her own work now out on a just-released Cambridge world premier CD.
Trish is a musician par excellence. It only takes minutes to take on the warmth of her work. Backed by three exceptional players, a brilliant guitarist Chris Montague , a fabulous drummer Joel Barford and on the yes, Hammond organ Ross Stanley. ‘ It’s not often you’re in the room with a full -blown organ” remarked a listener behind me. But so far from alien, this emerges as a well-suited instrument for Trish’s high soring, deep delving hugely expressive saxophone.
The second number took us on Trish’s long walk along the Thames from Rotherhithe to Westminster Bridge. Joel Barford’s drum substituted for footsteps and meanwhile a riverscape of sound drifted into the mind, from the foghorns of tugs to the whirr of ferry engines, all captured and caught up in one lovely performance. The quartet ended their first half with a truly vital driven full -on creative cacophony of controlled sound.
Once accustomed to the diverse demands of My Iris the second half was a walk over. A now -charmed packed audience fell under the spell of these artists and their textured background to Trish Clowes’ soul- warming music. There was another visit to the Thames and some truly gorgeous ( and unexpected) ballads For me a sense of delight washed the room with all this inventive joy. Improvisation has a bad press but done with such expertise and inspiration it brings its own sense of satisfaction. Time stands still and the sound reigns in the heart.
Trish Clowes is already internationally acclaimed, and her band celebrated countrywide. Well done Cambridge Modern Jazz for going all out for Modernity – and top marks for a choice of what will be ( or perhaps already is) a world beating ensemble.
There is a local slant on this exotic band. Genius doesn’t spring from nowhere .
A memorable guitarist Chris Montague
Trish Clowes is the granddaughter of the versatile virtuoso John Lowe, who settled outside Ely after a life in Spain and France. His skill on the piano and organ, his dance performances and his brilliant connection with his admiring audience has him still tenderly remember by all of us who knew him.
Joel Barford on brilliant drums
Ross Stanley. on the amazing Hammond organ
