Julian Siegel Quartet

The Verdict, Brighton

Friday 23rd May, 2014

    Saxophonist Siegel brought his powerhouse of a quartet to The Verdict at the end of May, playing to a packed-house. A veteran of the London scene, Siegel was accompanied by Liam Noble on piano, Oli Hayhurst on double bass and Gene Calderazzo on drums. Both sets consisted of original tunes predominantly taken from the quartet’s last album, Urban Theme Park. Siegel’s compositions are thoughtful, witty and varied. Challenging time signature changes, sophisticated harmony and tempo alterations are brought together to produce pieces that demand the listener's attention. 

    On the night, multi-instrumentalist, Siegel, played tenor, clarinet and bass clarinet, performing on all to fantastic effect, often doubling a bass line or a shadowing a piano part during the head and then letting rip in the solos. Noble, as proficient and entertaining as ever, was a perfect foil for Siegel, comping supportively behind the solos and bringing the house down with his own improvisations which were simultaneously playful, logical, sensitive and boisterous! Hayhurst’s strong, propulsive bass worked beautifully alongside Calderazzo’s fiery and responsive drums. This was a night of high-quality original jazz performed by seasoned, accomplished musicians who are at the top of their game. 

Katy O’Neill