REVIEW: JAZZ CONVERSATIONS at The Place 20 & 21 September 2024
‘highly enjoyable’ ★★★
Body of People Jazz Theatre Company (aka BOP) was founded in 1996 by Award-winning artist and choreographer Dollie Henry MBE and jazz composer Paul Jenkins. This evening of Jazz Theatre, at contemporary dance powerhouse The Place, features a double bill, FOOTPRINTS IN JAZZ and TOUCHES OF MILES.
The first act showcases Impact Zone Youth company following by performances by professional jazz theatre dancers. This suite of contemporary dance with ensemble pieces and solos, displays power and strength with energy and athleticism. Lots of ronde de jambes, power leaps, pirouettes and the occasional shimmy, are on display with intricate choreography making interesting shapes and patterns on the stage.
In the second act, a jazz ensemble plays Miles Davis with arrangements and additional compositions by Paul Jenkins. This is interspersed with film, giving a mini biopic of the Jazz legend. The music is accompanied by further contemporary jazz dance performances. The film (Pungab2000/Cine5Dfilms) and lighting (Joshua Harriette) for this half of the show, is excellent.
Praise to some of the dancers for their special kind of stage presence. These include Nafisah Baba, who won BBC young Dancer in 2017, with stunning use of her upper body, flexible back, sinuous arms and a face that tells the story. She might not be the best technician, but she is riveting to watch. Alongside her, Oraine Frater is very technically gifted, and wonderfully expressive.
The dance numbers are rather reminiscent of the offerings on television dance competitions. Extremely well drilled ensemble pieces, duets telling a love story, and generally lots of smiley faces. This is perhaps its undoing, because it begins to seem a little bland. Of course it’s not every day that a choreographer of the calibre of Jerome Robins or Bob Fosse comes along but it does matter that the show lacks style. It displays wonderfully trained dancers, who just need that little extra something to enable them to stand out from the crowd.
Similarly, the Jazz ensemble, playing Miles Davis do not quite hit the spot, and seem to be in something of a hurry. The instrumentalists are very fine with the Alto Sax (Tyraneissacstuart) being a particular joy. However, they could afford to consider jazz as more of a conversation, with pauses and phrasing.
Overall, a highly enjoyable evening, but some of us with the highest expectations are left wanting more.
Photos:Punjab2000
JAZZ CONVERSATIONS
Friday 20 September at 7.30pm & Saturday 21 September at 7.30pm
THE PLACE
17 Duke’s Road
London
WC1H 9PY
(020) 7121 1100
Price
£20 (£16 concs)
90 mins (inc interval)
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A ONEOFF Special Award has been awarded to London Pub Theatres Magazine and Editor Heather Jeffery for providing a vital forum for highlighting the excellent work that happens in rooms in pubs, with sensitive editing, and an acute sense of the importance of tiny fringe venues to the health and development of British Theatre