They advise The Elegy Project is "a contemporary chamber music ensemble blending classical, jazz and folk". It's strange, yes, but beautiful and deeply satisfying. Think a vocal dectet (a nonet on this day) singing Megan Washington or Lonely woman by Horace Silver and Leonard Feather, or a solo pianist playing Rachmaninov or Chopin's famous Funeral march then joined by the choir, or Joni Mitchell Both sides now, a key song of the '70s, played by a jazz quartet (on this day a trio of piano, bass, vocals). This is a new group, directed on the day by Kimberley Steele with a string of renowned locals. It's not a small chamber group given 13 names are listed, but a fascinatingly broadminded and exploratory combination. Full marks for the mix of musics. And there were some seriously satisfying performances, too. Kimberley on solo classical piano and voice; Rachael on jazz vocals, deeply effective and emotive, and also joining in the choir; Chris just that fabulous bassist that he is, but then picking up a Telecaster to back the choir on one tune; Micah impressively spelling tunes and improvising, unhurried and purposeful, on a much nicer piano than I'd heard him on recently. And the choir, some lovely voices, well intoned on some challenging and well arranged harmonies. Gus is the drummer to come and he can only add. I was taken deeply by this concert, the breadth and emotional expression of it all. Fabulous and still very new. If you read this post promptly, perhaps you can catch them at Wesley 3pm Sat 13 or All Saints 3pm Sun 14 June.
The Elegy Project performed at Wesley and comprise Kimberley Steele (piano, musical director), Chris Pound (bass, guitar, synth, director), Rachael Thoms (vocalist), Micah Knight (piano), Angus Henderson-Mack (Gus Henderson, drums), Emma Griffiths (soprano), Petta Lindsay and Neille Williams (altos), Oliver Bruhl and Cody Christopher (tenors), Martin Magill, Lachlan Rankin and Daniel Westbury (basses).
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