Taking part in the Music at Oxford concert series, with a concert at the Sheldonian Theatre, British jazz trio Mammal Hands were surprised to note that this was the first time they had played in the city.
The three-piece first began making music together in Norwich 12 years ago when brothers Nick Smart (piano) and Jordan Smart (saxophone) met percussionist Jesse Barrett while busking. Although they could easily be classified as a jazz act, their sound also mixes contemporary classical, ambient, folk and world music. In interviews, they have said that a lot of their compositions are created through improvisation. A collective creative energy and powerful group dynamic were very much on display throughout their performance at the Sheldonian.
After getting things going with a jam, the trio began their set proper with Nightingale, a lilting piece of music from their fifth studio album, Gift from the Trees. This collection of tunes, which the group recorded in a residential studio in rural Wales, dominated the group's set list for the evening. Other tracks from the album performed included Kernel, Deep Within Mountains, Rise and The Spinner. This last track was the penultimate piece of the evening. It began with Nick Smart’s driving piano arpeggio. The same sequence of notes played quickly, over and over and over again. Repetitive, but strangely hypnotic.
Mammal Hands are an incredibly inventive group who really know how to make the most of their instruments. Jordan Smart alternated between three different types of saxophone during the set. Jesse Barrett's drum kit included a tabla, which provided an Indian sound to some of their compositions. He also drummed with a curved African Tama stick and used brushes to add the sound of shimmering cymbals. The use of electronic effects was also pretty interesting. Adding reverb to the sound of piano chords helped the trio to paint ethereal soundscapes.
With Transfixed, which the group played towards the end of the performance, pianist Nick Smart made use of the synthesizer which had been sitting beside his open-topped grand piano. The piece began with a single note repeated. A key struck again and again. A rhythm kicked in, then the saxophone part began. As the rhythm became more frenetic, the piece began to grow and soon the whole thing turned into an epic jam.
Mammal Hands entranced the audience with their unique, creative sound. Simple, repetitive piano parts combined with complex rhythms and melodic saxophone lines to create truly hypnotic pieces of music. As the group ended their first Oxford performance of their 12-year career, they joked that they’d be back in the year 2036. Hopefully, they’ll return sooner than that.