EFG London Jazz Festival : Interchange, Royal Festival Hall, London (GB) - Nov 10, 2017

Interchange are a female dectet: Yazz Ahmed trumpet/flugelhorn/electronics, Carol Jarvis trombone, Amy Roberts alto sax/clarinet, Tori Freestone tenor sax/soprano sax/flute/violin, Issie Barratt baritone sax/leader, Shirley Smart cello, Nikki Iles piano/accordion, Charlie Pyne double bass, Corrina Silvester drums/percussion, Jessica Radcliffe vocal. Roberts and Radcliffe were deps. This was a terrific performance of creative large-ensemble jazz. Great writing - the arrangements were imaginative and supplied good instrumental juxtapositions, attractive sonorities. Good soloing and rhythmic variation. Radcliffe the singer was terrific as a last-minute stand-in and the use of the voice as instrument within the ensemble was really interesting, very different from the usual jazz vocal role. The cello solos stood out too. But it was all good. The writing is by members of the band, especially Barratt, but they also commission pieces.