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Kurt Elling & The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Festival Theatre
Sat 26 April
Season closed
After having the privilege of seeing Herbie Hancock in concert with the ASO in 2007, I could not foresee that another collaboration with a pure jazz artist could come close to matching the magic of that evening. However, on March 15 2004 (I kept the ticket), I also had the privilege of sitting front row at a jam packed 'Gov to hear Kurt Elling give a concert of such virtuosity that it redefined my previously ill-conceived opinions about the nature of jazz singing. Hence, when I heard that Elling and the ASO had joined forces, I thought it must be too good to be true. I was wrong.
In company with the orchestra, guest saxophonist Julien Wilson, and the Laurence Hobgood Trio (Hobgood on piano, Rob Amster on bass, Kobie Watkins on drums), Elling showed why he is the anointed successor of the vocalese school led by Jon Hendricks and Mark Murphy. Opening with his lush romantic interpretation of the ballads My Foolish Heart, More and the perennial Stardust, Elling became more adventurous with a swinging rendition of Betty Carter's Tight, followed by the melancholy Don't Worry 'Bout Me and then finished the first half with a foot stomping no holds barred Double Blues.
The second half was more eclectic and dominated by Hobgood/Ellng compositions and arrangements. An over scored Easy Living was followed by the title track from Elling's latest album 'Night Moves' and then a fascinating Hobgood original The Beauty Of All Things with a Elling lyric and poetry reading, although not the haiku with which Elling's mentor Murphy opens his concerts. Elling's thrilling arrangement of Nature Boy garnered a worthy standing ovation and an encore with Hobgood alone of the Sinatra classic In The Wee Small Hours, where you could literally hear a pin drop.
Under the baton of wunderkind Ben Northey, the ASO complimented the quartet with distinction and it was exciting to see stalwarts of the orchestra tapping their feet and nodding their heads in admiration at the improvisational skills on show. So, what's next? We've had Hancock and now Elling. If we pray to the jazz gods, could we get a Wayne Shorter or Keith Jarrett? Amen!
Mal Byrne
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