MARCO MARCONI - CMJ THE GONVILLE HOTEL
Emma Rawicz on saxophone ( among other instruments)
As fast as Charlie Parker – and she’s only 21 . An opener for this review suggested by artist and jazz super-buff Justin Hawkes , just one of a rapt audience at last night’s performance of Marco Marconi ‘s remarkable quartet. The dazzling saxophonist is Emma Rawicz, a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2022 and a cool dynamic feature of this accomplished ensemble. Emma has also built a reputation as both a bandleader and a session musician, regularly playing at major national jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's and EFG London Jazz Festival. Her influences range from Chris Potter, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Garrett, Joe Henderson and Chick Corea. Emma studied at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Chetham's School of Music, an inevitably at the Royal Academy of Music.
Marco Marconi is a wonderfully laid-back pianist -even by jazz standards. He moved from his native Umbria to Britain twelve years ago to pursue his career and expand his composition and performance. His playing is heavenly whether it is in homage to Wayne Shorter, a brilliant take on Miles Davis or his own composition FMPOV From My Point of View which took off like an exhilarating express train and left the audience breathless with delight. When it finished the affable Maroc promised ‘We’’ll calm down now’ - the man next to me shouted “ No, don’t!”
The quartet features Jakub Cywinski on a vibrant relentless double bass, Joel Barford on a world-beating set of drums and of course the remarkable Emma Rawicz an artist who can morph through the . Marco’s choice of songs is perfect. He had the hurricane impact of a Thelonius Monk number up against Miles Davis Blue in Green – his playing is lyrical one moment dynamic and driver the next, a brilliant performer. Joel Barford on drums, or rather becomes drums, the rolls and riffs were so well executed there was no hint of a space between them, and the effect was electrifying.
Marco Marconi Quartet have played in London so far, but they are a band for hire - . Cambridge by train on a rainy night cannot be a massive draw. But the warmth of the reception was surely worth the trip.
The Cambridge Modern Jazz Club goes from strong to storming over the past few months with sell out shows in the plush but cool new venue of the Gonville Hotel. Long may David Gower and his dedicated team of spirited volunteers bring us jazz as cool as this.
