Live Review: Jazz Party, SiB

Believe the hype. Jazz Party have been wantonly converting the masses into a feverish euphoria of jazz punk, and they are coming for your soul tonight. The air in the vast heart of The Croxton is fairly crackling at the launch of their debut album, aptly titled Monday Night - the night that this group of gifted musos meet every week to jam.

Firstly SiB (Adrien Siboulet) gives a solid grease-up with stinging riffs from his electric guitar, snarly bass vocals and a diverse range of tracks that veer from soft rock with a lick of country and western to indie blues - more depth and artistic flair than your average pub rocker.

At a half hour past their advertised appearance, Jazz Party make a spectacular entrance. Delightfully catching everyone by surprise, they enter in the traditional spirit of New Orleans jazz bands - in a single file led by a boisterous tuba, slowly weaving a path to the stage to the beat of the rhythm and brass sections. At the sight of special guest Harry James Angus (trumpet) of The Cat Empire in the line-up, the excitement hits mega-peak level. This is going to be some party!

After a short pause 'busking' in a circle at the centre of the floor, they take to the stage and are introduced by enigmatic frontman Darcy McNulty, the saxophonist and songwriter from Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes. Also from The Bangin' Rackettes are pianist/vocalist Hue Blanes, double bassist Jules Pascoe and sultry lead vocalist Loretta Miller. Lachlan Mitchell (guitar), Dominic Hede (drums), and Donnie Stewart (trombone) round out the core group.

With a heady blend of old swing, jump blues, R&B, gospel, country and western, soul and any myriad incarnations of jazz, each track is starkly different yet capriciously intoxicating. From the heartbreaking ballad Talking In Your Sleep to the funky Latin beats of Jazz Dog and Mountain Goat, the driving country rhythms of the defiant Drowning and Rock 'N' Roll Graveyard to the slow, immolating rhythm of Magic Man, when teamed with Miller's thrusting vocals these tunes are pure hip magnets. The packed room surrenders as one.

Miller's mother, Tracey Miller of The Sun Kings fame and also a much respected vocal teacher, makes another surprise guest cameo and respectfully belts out a number that sees her holding her own against the band. Angus' harmonics and whistling solo in Leave Some Beer For Old Hank draw thumping applause.

During the encore, a slow number "for the lovers out there" unfortunately gets drowned out by chatter despite a shushing plea from some in the crowd. This song is one best reserved for a more intimate crowd. The ringmaster-like compere - a tall, bespectacled man in a sparkly black suit and hat - suffers a similar fate. An inspiring idea, but one probably best omitted.

The baptism complete, Jazz Party move on to the rest of the country to spread their word and, doubtless, to also win more souls in their wake.