Gig review: Brodie Jarvie Septet, Edinburgh

IN WHAT must surely be seen as either a refreshing note of optimism or a triumph of foolhardiness over divisible funds, the Brodie Jarvie Septet played to an audience whose number was twice, maybe three times their own.

Brodie Jarvie Septet - The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh

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It certainly made for an intimate experience, although the warm reaction and the immersive qualities of the music never made the sparsity of people around feel unwelcoming.

Glaswegian Jarvie led from the back, stationed at his double bass towards the rear of the crowd of players on the compact stage. Around him were pianist Pete Johnstone and drummer Neil Paton, while out front three horn players took turns on saxophones and clarinets and gathered most of the attention. Yet this was a real group performance. The band worked fluidly, holding together some beautifully assured extended periods of music, none of which appeared to be improvised.

There was a trad nature to what they were attempting, accentuated by the number of brass parts and the fact that this music was billed as being inspired by the writings of Jack Kerouac and Charles Bukowski. Yet if the style seemed beamed in from the 1950s, the verve with which these seven young players performed ensnared the attention. Even at a near three hours of music with a hefty interval, those who chose to spend the evening in their company were well rewarded.