The Tomasz Bura Group: EFG London Jazz Festival’s Finest
Photo by the author.
The idea of music as a language is a contentious topic, sitting at the intersection of philosophy and music. In regards to Polish Jazz pianist Tomasz Bura however, there is no debate. Bura speaks through melody as though it is his native language, a fact that was evident both the first time I heard him play at Ronnie Scotts, and again last Friday at the Cockpit Theatre.
The Cockpit really is North West London’s hidden gem. Tucked away on Gateforth Street, the venue breaks down the barriers of separation with the stage in the centre of the room, allowing the audience to engage from any angle. The audience were instructed to take advantage of this, being encouraged to move around between numbers. It was a privilege to have this opportunity at the Tomasz Bura Group’s show, allowing for an intimate insight into the virtuosic movements of all musicians. The Cockpit hosts regular Jazz performances, with their production Jazz In The Round hosting events for an array of purposes, including the EFG London Jazz Festival, which this concert was a part of.
The Tomasz Bura Group, in this performance, consisted of four musicians: Bura himself on the keys, Rouhangeze on vocals, Laurence Cottle on bass, and Mark Mondesir on drums.
A particular highlight was the second song, an unreleased collaboration between Bura and Rouhangeze, which acutely simulated a conversation. The musicians bounced off each other and the direction of the song was tactfully unpredictable - at times melodic and free-flowing, and other times tense and fast-paced. Rouhangeze’s vocals, despite her potent vocal ability, remained at a balance with Bura’s keys. I thoroughly appreciated this respect of balance, which was sustained throughout the entire performance. Another standout moment was one of the final songs, again unreleased, which preceded Bura’s acknowledgement of the role that rock has played in the culmination of his life. Said rock influence interpolated the song harmoniously, particularly evident through heavier drums, bass, and a climactic, densely layered build up. This fusion of styles builds on the essence of experimentation, a theme certainly central to both Bura’s composition and this performance as a whole.
Bura spoke with the audience a number of times, highlighting the importance of embedding yourself in the music and understanding what “the frequencies” do to your body and mind as a musician. His introspective nature was rife in his playing too; he roamed the keys almost as though they were malleable, moulding each melody delicately whilst traversing the boundaries of tonality and rhythm as we know it. Bura complemented the traditional keyboard with a synthesizer, using effects like delay and vibrato to sculpt the sound. His playful synth solos filled what may have otherwise been looming as a saxophone-shaped hole. There is no doubt - Bura goes far beyond what is expected of a keys player.
Aided by the central positioning of the stage that enabled the musicians to face each other, a wordless dialogue, communicated through ardent eye contact and facial expressions, was almost palpable. As a result, moments of expanding musical intensity were tightly bound to synchronicity amongst the musicians. They each exemplified skill of the highest quality, but I must acknowledge that I spent ample time with my gaze fixed on Mondesir, mesmerised by his profoundly intricate playing, which exposed his deep understanding of the inner workings of rhythm. The drummer, who has worked with the likes of Courtney Pine and John McLaughlin, has garnered copious admiration in today’s jazz scene, and there is no question as to why.
The group performed an array of Bura’s pieces, but the keys player highlighted that “every performance is different, this one is very unique”. Each song could better be understood as a ‘take’ on its studio recording, with improvisation and evolution often taking prevalence. Bura’s relaxed approach to change was clear; this allowed for organic developments in his music, permitting the musicians and audience to embark on an uncertain musical journey together.
As a keen disciple of the London Jazz scene, I can confidently say it is unique to experience something of this calibre. Tomasz Bura’s virtuosity in both composition and playing is the quintessence of innovative, contemporary Jazz fusion. Bura and the group continue to perform in the UK and internationally. If you get the chance to hear him play live, solo or accompanied, I deeply encourage you to take it.
You can keep up with Tomasz Bura via his Instagram, where he promotes upcoming concerts and shares clips of live performances.
Edited by Julia Curry - Music Editor
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