PORTICO QUARTET — Black and White Sessions (review)

PORTICO QUARTET — Black and White Sessions album cover Promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs) · 2009 · Nu Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
New favorites of British young jazz fans took Britain by storm in 2007 with their debut album (and won most prestigious British musical trophy - Mercury Prize for it in 2008).Black An White Sessions chronologically is their second album, recorded live in B & W Music Club in February 2009 and contained material from debut album and some new songs (latter added to their second studio album).

Being almost all-acoustic quartet (only sax player Jack Wyllie uses some electronic effects devices), they have very specific sound. For a first time I heard them playing live at summer 2010 crossing one of Old Town's square,and was really surprised what instrument I hear there? Watching on improvised scene I have seen strange metallic (?) percussion I've never saw before. Later I found out in internet they play hang - tuned Swiss-made percussion instruments,sounding close to small ritual gongs.Not very jazzy instruments for sure, but it's impressive how interesting they sound in combination with saxes,drums and vertical bass!

Band's music is meditative,melodic,but very modern at the same time.Mixing jazz tradition with some ambient soundscapes,they play beautiful tunes with flavor of Radiohead and Nordic nu jazz, melted together.Black & White Sessions is originally club release,their second coming album promotion,available for short time from club's site as free download. In fact, same songs are presented on debut or second albums which both are much better known. But even now, after I have heard both studio albums, I still prefer this release - band's live recordings sound here more fresh,a bit sharper (or let say - less polished).
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