Live Review: Mufaro, Pending?, Jabberwocky Down

A lot can be said about Jabberwocky Down's performance capabilities. Drummer Libby Scott lays down an exceptionally firm platform for vocalist Claudia Allard and horn players Nick Gordon and Yori Dade while still creating intrigue and interest in her part.

Each individual in the band is an exceptional performer and the arrangements are overwhelmingly full of strong instrumental motifs. Switching audience attention between Hammond organ, six-string bass, electronic samples, sax and trumpet makes for a wild ride but Jabberwocky Down do especially well at creating focus and emotion while restricting themselves to a minimalistic arrangement. They know how to leave space, creating a vacuum that sucks the audience into a state of suspense, forcing them to clutch to the vocalist's sassy lyrics and catchy vocals.

With a new single released the day of the show, Pending? had an excited crowd to please. They began their set with the steady but impactful 5 Spice, luring the audience into a false sense of security before gradually becoming more and more syncopated and erratic. This slow crescendo eventually turned into a jaunt of funky chaos as the four-piece danced through their honed arrangements and well-placed solo sections.

Pack leader Shannon Kelly does well to keep everyone entertained with his goofy humour and stage banter while directing the band and the crowd with satisfying stage cues.

This scribe's favourite aspect of the performance is within Pending?'s diverse sound palette. The band does exceptionally well at creating strong points of interest while keeping the arrangements grounded, pushing the audience through their performance. It's refreshing to hear a contemporary jazz-fusion act writing innovative material and performing with such creative conviction. This scribe finds all too often that similar acts indulge in improvisation, more often than not, to the detriment of their performance, which is not the case here.

Pending?'s compositions are contemplative and spicy, forcing the audience through an aural journey packed with immense dynamic range and wonky grooves. Their new song Oink! is a lot of fun on stage but the unreleased content that they're playing live has the crowd even more excited for the next show and the next record!

After a short breather, the crowd are intrigued to see few familiar faces from the scene take the stage for Mufaro's performance, which was utterly impressive. Mufaro control a crowd masterfully. Sitting back and watching as the crowd were enveloped in the atmosphere was near surreal. 

At the climax of their performance, they organised a dance circle mid-song before going through an array of solos to introduce the band members. Mufaro organised and executed their set with style and conviction while keeping things exciting with unexpected elements and crowd participation. They are one of the strongest soul/R&B hip hop acts this writer has seen locally. Be sure to check out their next show.