Review: Enemy, CBSO Centre, Birmingham
There's been an impressive number of new young groups emerging on the jazz scene over the last few years.
The latest – surely destined for great things – is Enemy, an energetic trio whose music may be technically complex but grabs the listener with a tidal wave of emotion.
The group comprises two British players - pianist Kit Downes and drummer James Maddren – and Swedish bass player Petter Eldh.
Their gig at the CBSO Centre last Friday, presented by the Birmingham organisation Jazzlines, was part of a tour which will also take them to Germany and Switzerland.
As a bonus, the group had a special guest with them in the second half of the Birmingham concert, guitarist Chris Montague.
Most of the compositions in the concert were by Downes, including the quirky, twisting theme 'Jinn', named after a character in a computer game, 'Children With Torches', which opened with a groovy offset beat, and Race The Sun, also named in honour of a computer game.
Eldh's tune 'Brandy Norwood', named after the R&B star, reflected – the bassist said – elements of Norwood's style, but was so harmonically adventurous that I would never have guessed at its inspiration.
Guest guitarist Montague added a strong voice to the Enemy ensemble, creating a flurry of broken chords to introduce his own piece 'Chandler's Delight', which merged seamlessly into Downes's tune 'Politics'.
By John Watson
