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Damian Robinson discovers alternative takes on jazz and hip-hop
Image: Jasmine Quintet by Scarlet Kane
It’s an interesting triple jazz/hip-hop combination at The Cluny 2 tonight, with each act providing an interesting alternative viewpoint about the space that separates jazz and hip-hop. Openers Chumbo start the inspection with a sound focused on the creation of laid back, mostly instrumental, hip-hop grooves created through live piano and live drum patterns. Nicely spaced out as a five-piece, Chumbo’s style almost reaches acid jazz in places as their cool, smooth sound starts the night off full of fun.
Bending more towards jazz, Jasmine Quintet are up next with a six-piece jazz sound that tapers down any sharp edges of the evening and settles us in to a warm fuzzy atmosphere. Playing with the most elegant of styles, band leader and saxophonist Jasmine steals the show with a sound so delicate and understated that it pulls you in rather than pushes you out; it’s an incredible performance supported nicely by electric guitar licks in the spirit of Robby Krieger.
Main act Holly Flo Lightly sees the evening swing back towards a more hip-hop sound, though with her Jurassic 5 style of laid-back flow and natural confidence on the mic, it’s not hard to imagine key influences coming from jazz vocalists looking to use their voice as supporting instrumentation.
Three great acts with three very unique, intentionally understated, approaches to their craft.
