PYJÆN + DJs Tina Edwards & Charles Vaughan

Patterns, Brighton

Wednesday 23rd October, 2019

September’s Offie Mag jazz night saw a showcase of young talent that included Chloe Bodur, Yadasofi and Ebi Soda. October saw jazz collective PYJÆN on the bill, with support from DJs Tina Edwards and Charles Vaughan.

Having met as students at London’s Trinity Laban jazz course, PYJÆN have an engaging group sound and they started their hour long set with Waiting for Perry, the penultimate track of their newly released debut album. The triumphant sounding march-like beginning soon developed into a Miles Davis fusion-era platform for improvisation.

As well as tunes from their eponymous debut album they also performed some brand new pieces, including the impressive Deeper Sleep. Whilst the tunes from their album sounded stronger and tighter, generally the set contained an effective contrast of energetic, upbeat tunes and slower, ethereal-sounding tunes, such as Steve and a new composition that incorporated Ben Vize’s Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI).

The most engaging part of PYJÆN’s live shows is the interplay between musicians, particularly the chemistry between trumpeter Dylan Jones and saxophonist Ben Vize. Jones has a crisp, clear tone on the trumpet with soloing chops to match many more experienced players, while Vize frequently employs the full range of the saxophone, often combining notes from his breathy lower register with clear altissimo notes, whilst still keeping a strong narrative arc to his solos.

The final tune of their set, Nah, was their most memorable and energetic piece in a set that showcased their wide range of influences bringing in Afrobeat, bebop, jazz-rock, and bassist Ben Crane adding a Star Wars melody to the bassline of their closing number.

Worldwide FM DJ Tina Edwards kept the energy levels up with an eclectic and upbeat selection of music as part of her current UK tour. Her forthcoming radio show on Worldwide FM (with co-producer and fellow DJ Charles Vaughan) is entitled Universal Sanctuary and should be an interesting mix of jazz and club culture.

Dylan Jones, trumpet; Ben Vize, tenor saxophone & EWI; Dani Diodato, guitar; Ben Crane, bass; Charlie Hutchinson, drums.

DJ sets from Tina Edwards and Charles Vaughan.

Words: Charlie Anderson

Photos: Lisa Wormsley