Photo: Press
When you’re at a jazz gig at Shoreditch and Howard Moon is nodding along next to you, it can start to feel things are just a little on the nose. None of this is Polar Bear’s fault of course.
The British jazz survivors (being around since 2004 counts these days) start their latest tour at the uber-trendy Village Underground tonight – to a crowd hungry to hear latest album Same As You in a live setting. The show starts with a message of unity and peace – delivered admirably over electric wizard Leafcutter John’s ambient tones. Then the familiar percussion and sax tune up to signal the arrival of the Polar Bear fans of UK jazz as so familiar with.
Jazz shows are, to perhaps a greater extent than any other genre, a journey. The sedate opening is not to be taken as an end to itself but rather as the opening movement of an evening where everything is connected. Two saxes, percussion and double bass initially sound disjointed; but the knowledge that the payoff is on the way means this is not unwelcome. Soon Polar Bear are hitting their stride. The energy becomes more frantic, even the initially serene crowd start to express their appreciation in more overtly physical ways. Some bodies even writhe to the rhythm – providing juxtaposition to the sea of gently nodding haircuts.
By the time the gig reaches its inevitable crescendo even those who seem to be here more out of duty than reverence – and there are some here tonight – seem to be immersed in the experience. A roar that seemed unimaginable earlier in the night sees Polar Bear on their way and into the Shoreditch night.
Experimental jazz is always going to be polarising (pun half intended) but there is a sense that this is a band that understands the live experience. They love the journey they’re on and do a good job of taking the audience with them. With genres such as this, that can often be half the battle.
