Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

For only their third concert together, the trio that make up the Denys Baptiste Triumvirate came across as nearly stealing the show at the First International Jazz Festival to be held in Liverpool and that is one statement to make when the quality and intensity of the performances were as high as they possibly could be.

The mix of experimental alongside the cool and educated minds of Denys Baptiste, Larry Bartley on the double bass and the young but scintillating Moses Boyd on drums took the delighted and very respectful audience inside the Capstone Theatre down many roads, back alleyway and small winding paths of Jazz interpretation that in a lot of hands the meaning of what they were setting out to achieve would have been lost and forgotten. Not so by these three skilful performers who took the word Jazz and gave it extra impetuous, a journey of unregulated bliss that meandered expertly, drawing in those fortunate souls who attended and watching every move the threesome made, with a calm and dignified measure.

Denys’ himself switched between saxophones with ease and it soon became apparent that the journey they were guiding the crowd upon was also a sophisticated and brilliant game, with no rules except for the one to enjoy themselves, for which everyone took part in with pleasure. It seemed that the only one who knew exactly where he was going at all times was Denys and it worked magically, it kept the other two musicians on their toes and their music exceptional but it made the audience wonder what musical side track Denys was going to take as he challenged the audience to name the tune he was playing.

It turned out to be impossible to name all of them as the three musicians played and toyed with the crowd’s musical knowledge by mixing favourite songs into one glorious piece. Not many performers would dare have the confidence to do that but as the ovation rang out at the end of a quite wonderful session, the only right thing to do was applaud in appreciation and respect for what the three had achieved.

A blistering afternoon of top quality jazz by what can only be described as a giant of the genre.

Ian D. Hall