David Series – Hidden Waves. The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, as part of Edinburgh Fringe. Sunday 4th August 2024.

Phone snap by Fiona Mactaggart

Last night’s jazz concert at the recently re-opened Jazz Bar began vigorously, going from strength to strength as the one-hour long programme unfolded. Such was its quality one would have wished for longer.

Opening with a lovely piece composed by guitarist and band leader David Series, and based on Bill Evans’ My Foolish Heart, the attentive crowd stayed fully engaged as the quartet played many of the tracks from Series’ excellent album, Coloured Stones.

Series is also known for his older quartet, Meerkat Parade, in which, as last night, double bass duties were taken by James Lindsay, a figure as well-kent on the Scottish folk as on the jazz scene. The Hidden Waves quartet is completed by pianist Paul Harrison and drummer Dough Hough. A mighty line-up indeed.

Although hailing from Sheffield, Series evidenced a wry patter that was very Scottish. His intelligent, harmonically- evolved compositions however didn’t really sound like anyone else’s, while his playing style was also very much his own. Mixing such grown-up compositions with flashes of lyricism and highly satisfyingly deep grooves, this was a concert of first-rate music.

Thanks to the Fringe festival time restrictions, any solos or improvisations were necessarily brief. Nevertheless, Series showed what a very fine and individualistic guitarist he is, while giving Harrison ample space to demonstrate his magisterial command of the keyboards. Lindsay’s double bass and Hough’s drumming were also, as ever, deeply impressive.

The band has two more gigs this Fringe festival: 7pm today Monday and 5.30pm tomorrow Tuesday, both at The Jazz Bar. If you love engaging, top-quality modern jazz, be there!

Tickets for David Series – Hidden Waves concerts: Edinburgh Fringe Tickets

 

Bandcamp page here.

David Series’ Website here.

 

 

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