Gig review: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

Published on Friday 28 May 2010 19:01

SCOTTISH NATIONAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA **** CONCERT HALL, PERTH

THE Scottish National Jazz Orchestra first performed Tommy Smith's much expanded adaptation of George Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue back in 2006, in a thrilling performance fuelled by much adrenaline in Edinburgh.

It has become part of their core repertoire, and the subsequent release of a CD version has allowed greater appreciation of how ingeniously Smith has drawn on the original in his arrangement, although re-composition might be a more accurate description.

The piece is a tour de force for pianist Brian Kellock, who plays throughout its substantial length, much of the time at a highly demanding level. As well as incorporating the whole of Gershwin's original piano part from score (providing the unusual sight of a page turner on stage at a jazz concert), he also solos and accompanies the band's soloists.

The ensemble writing takes its lead from Gershwin's melodic and harmonic material, even where it departs most from it, and the SNJO's soloists, led by Tommy Smith, queued up to make their own contributions – Martin Kershaw's second alto solo was the pick of a superb bunch.

It was a hard act to follow in this Perth Festival outing, but Tam White clearly still revels in the chance to front a band of this size and quality. The veteran blues singer was in fine voice on the selection of songs from Ray Charles, Big Joe Williams, Stevie Wonder and White himself that filled the second half.