E-Type Jazz @ The Spiegeltent,Adelaide (06/03/11)

Fri 11th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

E-Type Jazz have become an Adelaide staple over the years and could safely lay claim to being one of the best jazz acts in town, perhaps the most well established. Recently Supporting Sting at Barossa Under the Stars the jazz quintet wowed to a packed outcrowd at the Spiegeltent in the Garden of Unearthly Delights for their show.

One of the most highly rated and respected jazz bands in Adelaide over the years, the act is comprised of a saxophonist, pianist, double bassist, drummer and singer,. With a devout following and a great reputation amongst older jazz lovers, knows its crowd and how to play to them. With very PC, family friendly banter and singer Katrina Ryan’s slick, albeit by the numbers crowd interaction, they’ve got their act down pat, even though for some, E-Type might seem a little A-Typical, pardon the terrible pun.

The act don’t necessarily stick to one jazz sub-genre, even venturing into contemporary pop for an original number by fantastic pianist Brenton Foster  and doing a slowed down take on Coldplay’s Viva la Vida. That being said, for more discerning listeners expecting to be blown off their feet by some ten minute free jazz solos, this might not be the act for you. Whilst each instrumentalist is at the top of their game and there are moments of individual brilliance especially from Foster and Beth Lyon on sax, one gets the feeling that the players are holding back a little, perhaps being a little less experimental in order cater to their fans. Certainly it’s perhaps not the type of thing you’d find at the most cutting edge late night jazz haunt in major American cities. Still in a smaller population city with a conservative bent, this act can serve as a safe introduction to an important genre which arguably deserves more attention than it’s getting.

Highlights included opening number Sweet Home Chicago, which featured Ryan emerging out of the audience to kick off the show and Cole Porter classic Too Darn Hot.