14/11/2024
Blicher Hemmer Gadd concert review from Aarhus:
There was something truly special in the air when the jazz trio Blicher/Hemmer/Gadd showed what they could do in the Little Hall at Musikhuset Aarhus. With Michael Blicher’s warm saxophone, Dan Hemmer’s elegant Hammond organ, and Steve Gadd’s drumming, which always has a magical presence, it became an evening where the music felt like a conversation between old friends. Every note was a welcome guest, and the concert struck a fine balance between the earthy and the sophisticated, letting jazz traditions shine through without becoming overly experimental.
The special acoustics of the Little Hall were the perfect setting for the trio’s sound—you could hear every musical detail. Blicher's saxophone spoke its own language, intimate and close, while Gadd showed precisely why he is known as one of the world’s best drummers. His playing was characterized by such relaxed mastery and skillful details that the audience was left in a kind of musical trance. Hemmer contributed with a steady and measured performance on the Hammond organ, which can easily take over, but here it fit perfectly.
Jazz can be grand and bombastic, but it can also fill the whole space, even when it’s just a trio playing a relaxed and velvety jazz that would be perfectly suited to drift over city rooftops on a summer day, weaving itself among the houses.
Highs and Lows
It was clear that the audience was there because they knew what the evening would bring. With Michael Blicher as the evening's storyteller, he humbly brought the audience closer to both the music and the three musicians on stage. Small anecdotes and stories between numbers created a relaxed and informal atmosphere, making the concert even more intimate.
The song “New Orleans” was the most lively piece of the evening, where the trio showed that there was also a contrast to the otherwise measured and sometimes very subtle performance. Here we got jazz in its most captivating form; a piece that truly pulled the audience to the edge of their seats, leaving a bubbling energy in the room. It was a musical climax that highlighted the trio’s ability to take the audience on a journey from the quietest moments to a grand celebration.
A Treat for Connoisseurs – and Beginners
After the concert, we were gifted with a single encore—but there was no doubt that several in the audience were hoping for even more. As the last notes faded away, the atmosphere was filled with gratitude and a touch of reflection.
Blicher/Hemmer/Gadd demonstrated, with absolute clarity, what jazz can be: a familiar warmth, a conversation in music, and an experience that leaves the audience with a sense of togetherness. If you’re a jazz lover, or perhaps just curious about what good jazz can be, you shouldn’t miss the chance to experience them live. https://musicmagazine.dk/
