C L Bob

Hairy Lemon Backpackers - Mawhera Quay, Greymouth

Friday, 28^th February 2003

Rating:

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So, down the road Dayglo and Nightglo zipped and immediately immersed ourselves in the bowels of the Hairy Lemon Backpackers (ex Royal Hotel) for an unforgettable show.  From Wellington, (what do they put in the water up there?) CL Bob have been described as jazz rock groove terrorists, or as someone said "they are reeaaaally cooool cats". Steve Cournane, Tim Jaray, Simon Bowden, Nils Olsen,  Toby Laing and Chris Williamson are six extremely cool cats.  They are so cool I have frostbite all over.  Do they improvise?  Are they experimental?  Are they original?  Are they progressive? Maybe, yes, yes and yes... with definite edges of surrealism and finger-clickin', feet movin' arm swingin' sock hoppin' beatnik rhythms.  Oh lawdy, the syncopation and metric modulation is knocking my chakras around and sprouting my internal mung beans!  Baby, this is fire at it's best and hottest.  But I'm not the only one with a rising temperature and St Vitus's Dance.

A rich and robust crowd seeking the good times came, saw, and found more than good times.  This is extreme musical sport and we've experienced thermal comfort at the extreme ends of the scale.  This isn't classical jazz for the feint of heart - this is knuckle-bruising hot and sweaty terrorist activity.  The most creative jazz group in Aotearoa... I tell ya, Dayglo can only sing their praises from the highest of highs... but hey, I'm still coming down from experiencing their wild fusion of free expression - free expression that was simulated in each gyrating body on the dance floor.

Smooth bass walking, lush horn, anarchist sax and clarinet, dazzling duo fret work, solid skinning and detailed keyboard playing a backing role, it was epic action all the way with the audience caught in a jazz hurricane from start to finish. Cooking with LPG and turning the gas right up - that's how I like it, and that's how everyone liked it, and that's what was delivered and dished up.  Nothing short of a gourmet 6-course meal to suit all tastes... sssssssssssssssssss...

Winners of last year's Best Jazz Album in the Tuis for Stereoscope, their creds shine like the sun at midday in a cloudless Summer sky.  A sextet of splendiferous musical technicians. Word for the wise - experience CL Bob and your mind, body and soul will be forever grateful. Pure genius!