The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music's Jazz Series is something I covet. Happily, I was able to get along to the latest instalment, held in the suitably (if not ideally) informal University of Wollongong bar, early last Friday evening. The star turn was the Matt Keegan Trio, featuring Keegan on sax, Cam Undy on five-string electric bass, and Dave Goodman on drums. Support was a student group, SubZero, who were, as the name suggests, pretty cool dudes, especially given the precociousness of their youth. Or, perhaps, by dint of it. While SubZero (trumpet, 'bone, sax, electric piano and drums) strongly impressed with their technique, at times they sounded jarringly discordant: a bent or consciously blue note is one thing, but the critical ear knows the difference. A more pleasing, harmonious sound will come with more consistent and conscientious attention paid to playing as a group, and overall musicality, rather than striving for individual stardom. Having said that, the players are, as I said, very young and, at the risk of sounding unnecessarily patronising, undeniably gifted. They deserve every encouragement and will, doubtless, make me eat my words within a few short years. (And apologies if this should sound like a school report.) Besides, the MKT is one helluva act to precede, and the temptation to 'dress to impress' and play one's hardest must've been irresistible.
SubZero immediately impressed with a busy bassist; perhaps a little too busy, but a diverting and imaginative player. However, all were at the very least creditable and bursting with potential. There seemed to be some healthy rivalry, which unfortunately had the side-effect of generating apparent uncertainty about who was leading, and who following, in embarking upon and sustaining pieces.
I arrived late, but managed to catch a couple of classic jazz grooves, as well as a reasonably well-executed reggae tune, followed, as I recall, by something funky; all-in-all, a fittingly crossed-over warmup for Matt Keegan and co, who also tend to veer outside the lenient and pliable boundaries (such as they are) of jazz.
The Matt Keegan Trio set up quickly and launched into a lengthy set; just as generous in all other respects. They play with ardent focus and gripping intensity. There were a couple of older, well-worn, but still fresh tracks, before Gumbo, New Orleans-inspired, swinging out wide and interpolating a few unmistakable motifs from that milieu; not least in drum breaks.
Shine reached a frenzied crescendo and Time & Time Again, though starting as a relaxed ballad, also steered a determined course to a thrilling climax.
Surrender Me is a slow blues, again redolent of New Orleans, which develops into a finely-textured and coloured piece, with Keegan's sax sounding, at times, uncannily like a trumpet.
Each outing tends to be a journey in itself, taking on a free-flowing, organic shape; something only really possible when three very well-matched and integrated instrumentalists, each virtuosic in his own right, share a stage and a certain cognitive modality. Beyond empathic, there is a synergy here which falls little, if at all short of pure, spontaneous alchemy. The genuine camaraderie, exemplified in broad smiles and hugs all round, after the show, said it all: the three clearly knew and were pleased as punch they'd turned on an outstanding set. SubZero can learn much about interplay from this trio.
The Matt Keegan Trio, an entity since 2002 has been touring; in support of its new, third & already critically-acclaimed album, on Jazzgroove, entitled Tone Imagination. (The) MK3 has both tone and imagination: Keegan, lyrical poet and painter; Dylan Thomas, or Brett Whitely, with a 'phone. Goodman, centre-stage, with his tightly-tuned snare, partnering with the blinding bassman, Undy, to create possibly the best jazz-rock rhythm section playing today; (bar none).
And it's all original. What's more, thanks to their unpredictable crossovers, it's an entirely distinctive sound, often lapsing into the more visceral realms of hard-riffin' rock.
I'm not the first and probably won't be the last to observe how Keegan's travels, particularly in North America have fanned the flames of his musical monentum: an anxious, relentless drive to his destination, but with unplanned detours. Yet he, nor his collaborators, ever lose their way. It's a trip really worth taking.
Matt Keegan Trio
supported by Subzero
Venue: Wollongong UniBar
Date: Friday 23 October
Time: 6pm
Tickets: $14 / $10
Bookings: Moshtix
