Partisans - Cheltenham Town Hall

Wednesday 24th June 2009

Anyone who writes reviews faces an occasional problem, namely … I know this is great example of its type, it’s just that I can’t stand that type.

That’s me with the rock-jazz quartet - Partisans.  Yet saxophonist Julian Seigal, guitarist Phil Robson, drummer Gene Calderazzo and bassist Thad Kelly play marvellously in many other jazz contexts.

So I went along trying to be positive and open minded, and soon wished I hadn’t. At their worst Partisans sounded like a dalek under torture. With Robson’s guitar in metallic mode in ‘own compositions’ that rattled off in edgy, repetitive, neurotic, style.

Mind you if Lapdog for example, had delivered a climax of Jimi Hendrix like excitement, than it would have been gain despite the pain. But it didn’t.

Yet I hung on in. And yes, fine creative interplay and highly skilled organisation were present. Other selections made greater call on more conventional jazz techniques, and the quartet met them well.

Pearly Gates produced some calypso fun, with simultaneous improvising creating real excitement, albeit that none of the tunes had much mystery to unfold.

Partisans have been together for 12 years, and the appreciation shown by the audience explained why. I remain 85 per cent unconverted, but that’s life. No one can like everything.

Derek Briggs