Live

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio + Skeltr: Jazz Cafe, London 10/6/19

Camden's Jazz Cafe proved to be the perfect antidote to a wet, cold and blustery day. Droves braved conditions outside to witness Seattle's finest soul/jazz trio and not to put too fine a thing on it, it was a truly stupendous spectacle.

First up, support band Skeltr, who warmed up the crowd no end. An electrifying new duo featuring the talents of Sam Healey’s roaring sax lines, which floated above Craig Hanson’s meaty groove-ridden drum patterns, electronic soundscapes and samples...improvising live in the moment: a striking, expansive sound with broken beat jazz at its core. They went down swimmingly, which is just as well, as they had been driving all day through the pouring rain all the way from Manchester!

Main act Delvon Lamarr wasted no time picking up where Skeltr left off, hitting the ground running with "Al Greenery", a delightful mid-tempo potboiler (that takes the best of Green's vibe) from the critically acclaimed "Close But No Cigar" album - this got us all instantly head nodding and relaxing into his groove.

The chemistry between the organist, Lamarr and guitarist Jimmy James is off the chain! They tease each other by egging each other on, trying to outfox one another with rhythmic displacements and general musical jousting. It's lucky that new drummer Michael 'Chicken Leg' Duffy glues it all together with his rock-solid grooves and cohesive demeanour, they have chosen well after original drummer Mcgraw's sudden departure.

There is a visceral intensity to their live sound too which is much heavier than on record. James' chunky, yet funky, guitar sounds huge over the vast spread of Lamarr's Hammond swells. There is a real sense of freedom and loosening of shackles that make this outfit so fun to watch and listen too - their innate sense of glee and enthusiasm is infectious.

There's plenty of variation too (which is essential for any instrumental band) the languid and reharmonised "Walk On By" soothes the mind and the soulful strut of "Memphis" really cuts the mustard. Another top night in the capital!

PHOTOS: EMRYS BAIRD
Words Emrys Baird