UCL Shows Review: Cinematic Jazz

Photography by Andrew Mackley

Rebecca Daly reviews the latest performance by UCL Jazz Society.

In late November, I had the pleasure of attending Cinematic Jazz at the Bloomsbury Theatre, run by the UCL Jazz Society. It was my first time going to an event run by the society, so going in, I had no idea what to expect. Before the music had even started playing, I was already impressed. Bright red theatre seats, almost all of them full, faced towards a dimly lit stage. The musicians, all dressed in black and red, filled the stage completely, with their shiny brass instruments reflecting the stage lights out into the audience. As the name suggests, the show consisted of jazz numbers in cinema throughout history, from its debut up until the 21st century.

The first thing that struck me was how full of instruments the stage was, ranging from saxophones to the drums to the double bass. There is no doubt that full use of these instruments was made, with the pieces alternating between solo performances, small groups, and a full ensemble. Arranging the pieces in this way ensured that the audience were always kept guessing what was to come, and each performance felt fresh and exciting. Solos and small group performances meant that individual talents could be showcased, whereas ensemble pieces added a dramatic aspect to classic numbers like James Bond’s Goldfinger.

Photography by Andrew Mackley

Personal highlights included the piece from Sister Act, in which the vocalists were particularly impressive, and the drum solo during the Whiplash number. Many of the musicians also took on more than one role, with many doubling up on instruments or performing in the choir. This demonstrated the ensemble-wide dedication to and love of music. The show ended on an uplifting note with a La La Land number, giving a boost of energy to the evening. Each member of the ensemble was involved, showing us the raw talent of all those involved one last time. It was a perfect end to the evening.

That evening the UCL Jazz Society gained a new fan, and I will definitely be attending events held by them in the near future. The society holds events regularly around UCL, so if you didn’t manage to catch this one, it’s worth looking out for upcoming performances in the new year.