Bram de Looze is a solo pianist from Belgian who's hailed as "the new Keith Jarrett" so it's not surprising that Wayne and Alex and Leo and surely other jazzers were there amongst the CIMF attendees. ABC was there too, recording with some pretty classy gear on a Bosendorfer borrowed from the Music School. Nice to see that Bram will get that exposure and also inviting to hear a change from the normal upright. Bram played alone, of course, for one set. Yes, I thought of Keith Jarrett too, if not for his temperament but for his improv style and approach. Not lots in the way of song structure but a glorious, overwhelming take on melody and all manner of effective substitutions and rhythmic plays. This really was exciting playing if missing the interaction with others and the underlying structures. But there were a few tunes with moving chord patterns, although very subtle and complex, and some inviting dropping left hand grooves. I once saw Keith Jarrett in Adelaide and this style is not my fave, but I have to admire the skills and that feel for substitution and that quick right hand and the complexities of the combined hands playing all manner of solo inventions that was a stunner. There's development but also that essence of individual playing that had him just stop on a spot, at least once. So something jazzy and very sharp for the festival.
Bram de Looze (piano) performed for the Canberra International Music Festival at Smiths Alternative.
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