Played at Uplands Tavern on March 27th.
Where to even think about starting on how to describe these guys is a task in itself. They are the most unusual, diverse, and just plain quirky band I think I’ve ever seen around in a good few years. They’re more than just your usual jazz band, to be honest, I think it’s only a few who would even say that they are jazz, but their combinations of amazingly funky bass riffs, incredibly catchy choruses and soft vocals; the “genre” that I have placed them under would be somewhere between jazz with a Latin twist. However, even though most people would class them as this, some of their songs take under exception. One of the newest numbers to their ever growing set-list, which, doesn’t have a name as yet, completely takes the turn and shows Ockhams Raiser performing country and western style, which surprisingly they can pull off very well.
It was not just the band alone that kept the punters of Uplands Tavern entertained, through they’re more well-known songs such as “Just Like That”, “In The Evening” and “Window” we were presented with dancers from the crowd who never failed to disappoint.
After playing two forty-five minute sets, the usual local band would seem to bore the crowd, but after this, plus a ten minute jam played by the band, the ever growing crowd seemed un-phased. It just goes to show that these guys tend to offer so much variety in their set, it’s a surprise in the waiting to see what they’ll come up with next.
Not following everyone else in the normal scheme of things, Ockhams Raiser are set to have taken the jazz music scene by storm, and they don’t seem to be looking back, not even a little bit.
Beth Daniels – beth.daniels@live.co.uk
