Stepping out from his role as a sideman for the likes of Van Morrison, Kurt Elling and Orrin Evans, tenor saxist Troy Roberts shows that he can work up a crowd on his own at this festive gig at the Perth International Jazz Festival. He brings together the team of Tim Jago/g, Silvano Monasterios/key-p, Eric England/b and David Chiverton/dr for 90 minutes of energy, mixing catchy themes and rocking solos.
The band shows its tight arrangements on a clever peek-a-boo jab fest on the fun ”Fame & Four Tune” with wild and wacky interplay and solos. Other times, there are hints of vintage Weather Report as the rhythm section percolates on the rapid run and England’s bouncy bass of “Through The Eyes Of Psychoville” or Jago and Roberts sear through the intense fusion of “Stoner”. There are also some mellow moments as on the dark and spacey “Sobrino” featuring some clever keyboard work, and the pretty “Tribes & Tribulations” with lyrical stretchings from England and Jago. But for the most part, this team is ready to get funky, and England’s thumb struts out the irresistible “Funkafarian” as a foundation for the masterful and mercurial Roberts, and the rhythm team digs in deep for the energetic “Big Night In”. There ‘s some soulful wacka-wooka on “Convertible Burt” and a rivulet is cut as Roberts lights a fire on “Dream Station”. Soul, R&B and jazz meld together into a rich musical stew down under.