The Cheltenham Jazz Festival: Adam Jackson - Cheltenham Town Hall

Monday 4th May 2009

Crackerjack rating: 8 / 10.

Here was a sight to behold. Five highly accomplished and professional young musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire, ready to pitch their talents into the maelstrom of jazz art.

Perhaps this audience would have gotten to know their musical personalities a little quicker, had they played just one familiar tune, but fashion dictates against.

No matter, they played winningly in a Pillar Room given first-aid acoustic treatment for the festival, and triumphed.

On 12PS alto-saxist leader Adam Jackson showed his worth, noodling the theme, imaginatively, building tellingly to a declamatory climax. With trumpeter Phil Cardwell an admirable foil here and throughout.

An as yet untitled Jackson ballad delivered direct melodic appeal which he enhanced admirably, aided by the apposite Callum Gourlay: bass and Doug Hough: drums.

And pianist Kit Downes brought brilliant technique and inspired compositional direction to every solo.

Good luck to them all. Let’s hope too that some of the amazing schoolchildren heard in the festival tent will follow their lead.

Derek Briggs