Canadian instrumental trio BadBadNotGood visit Glasgow for the first time tonight and play a stunning set in the basement setting of Broadcast.
Comprised of keyboardist Matthew Tavares, drummer Alex Sowinski and bassist Chester Hansen, their sound has been described as a fusion of hip-hop and jazz, utilising contemporary influences ranging from James Blake and Fly Lo to big boys of 50s jazz Coltrane and co.
The three met while studying at the Humber College jazz program in Toronto (which they subsequently all dropped out of), but their training is evident in the way they exuberantly play around with each song, with skillful tempo shifts blending wild energy with the controlled prestige of tight-knit, well-versed musicians.
The fact that they have only been playing together for two years, and are all barely in their 20s, indicates something really special is going on.
The gig, which features a blend of old and new material, is a significant departure form their first album BBNGLIVE 1, recorded at their first ever live show and pretty flawless when it comes to their trademark sound of groovy bass, melodic keyboards, and trippy voiceovers.
Now their sound has evolved even more to incorporate progressive electronic covers; Flying Lotus’ ‘Putty Boy Strut’ is a standout, with the crowd clapping in perfect synchronization to accompany Hansen‘s mellowed bass line following the driving riff of the original.
The decision to incorporate samples into the usually xylophone-tinged keyboards also marks a significant evolution towards blending the cutting edge with the classic; with Sowinski giving a shout to Led Zep’s John Bonham before ripping into an accompanied drum solo.
The flawless change of pace within each song reflects their comfort as a trio, effortlessly moving between smooth jazz interludes and an almost punk energy, inducing the crowd to move towards the stage, returning Sowinski’s encouraging and profanity-laced shouts with enthusiastic cheers.
With an eclectic choice of covers in their first two albums, including an endearing intro of ‘Hard In Da Paint’ and Blake’s ‘CMYK’, the diversity is reflected in their set that includes a reworking of Hudson Mohawke’s ‘Buggin’’ reflecting their Glasgow setting.
They end with the well-known ‘Lemonade’, a cover of Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Bastard’.
I caught up with them after the show where they explained that their influences range from “basically everyone from Drake to Coltrane”, and that the secret to creating their fusion covers stems from spontaneity.
Tavares explains that: “we just kind of fuck with [the song] and twist it and just play around and see what we can came up with.
“That’s why a lot of shit sounds the way it does in the live setting, but obviously we try and have a lot of energy.”
Lack of energy is not a problem; tomorrow they will be paying in London, then France, then onto the famous Montreux Jazz Festival, I recommend you go see them and judge for yourself.
Words: Alexandra Embiricos
