Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Saxophonist Christof Lauer

"That's no way to treat a grand piano."

The comment by a member of the audience as he left the auditorium of the School of Music, Edna Manley College, last Saturday night referred to the playing of the school's piano by German musician Jens Thomas. He and compatriot Christof Lauer, the saxophonist of the duo, had just presented an entertaining but rather unusual jazz concert.

Great performance

Delighted members of the audience offer a round of applause. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The oddest thing about it was certainly Thomas' playing. Most of the time he crouched low over the huge piano, but every now and then he would reach into the innards of the instrument and pluck the strings directly, producing a drumming sound. He would also occasionally drum on the top of the piano.

The other instrument he treated in an unusual way was his own voice. While half of the time he used it normally, to sing, in English or German, he would also speak German poetry and make grunting, neighing, wailing or muttering sounds to the musical accompaniment of his own piano and the saxophone.

The effect was startling, though not unpleasantly so, and it certainly forced the audience to listen to jazz in a fresh way. Considering the intrinsically improvisational nature of the form, that was all to the good.

Thomas, the only one who spoke to the audience, came across as light-hearted and wise-cracking. Lauer was more serious, but he was the centre of a hilarious episode when, despite the technician's initial efforts, the school-supplied microphone kept falling out of the mike stand.

As the nine-inch long instrument hung limply by its cord from the stand, laughter rippled through the ladies in the audience. Lauer played along, pretending to be frightened of the mike.

During the concert, which was an hour and a quarter long without intermission, the musicians played a dozen pieces. They were middle-of-the-road items, as easy-going as the duo's casual dress.

The tunes, some original, were generally melodious and varied in dynamics, pace and mood. They included Pure Joy, Yellow Silk, Rain, No Matter What They Say, Keep Your Love, Golden Lake, Getting Higher and Ecstasy Blue.

Lauer and Thomas have been playing together since 1999 and are currently touring Central America and the Caribbean. The tour was arranged by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Goethe Institute in Mexico.

German musician Jens Thomas on piano at the German Embassy's 'Evening of Jazz', held at the School of Music, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Arthur Wint Drive, last Saturday.