The organ is often remembered as the dominant sound of church services but in the setting of Peter Johnstone’s International Organ Quartet, along with saxophone, xylophone and drums players, it became part of a blend of sounds that portrayed a subtle range of moods and atmospheres.
A former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, and now pianist with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Johnstone’s manual dexterity was immediately apparent as the quartet launched into a pacey opening. The line up became not only about music but also about movement as American jazz vibraphonist Joe Locke danced lithely around his xylophone.
Tommy Smith, Edinburgh borne founder of the SNJO back in 1995, was originally billed in the line up but was replaced by alto saxophonist Will Vinson. From London Vinson is now largely New York based. His knees bent and hips swivelled with his instrument as the tempo demanded.
The piece Fleeting Dreams, written during the Pandemic, brought the temperature down as firm but fast connections with keyboards and drums melted into sensual and eerie brushes, conjuring up feelings of yearning and day dreaming.
The arrival of Johnstone’s son three years ago inspired the piece Logan’s Blues. It portrayed playful images of a toddler scuttling along with floor or reaching for objects dangling in the air above his cot.
All pieces in the concert were originally created by Johnstone but performed with improvisations in his endeavours, he explained , to keep his music as alive as possible and not restrained by a recorded or technology based versions.
“Beyond Everything” brought us in the uncertain realms of the future. Finally the charging of the “Four Horses of the Apocalypse” sent the audience away with a sense of purpose and direction.
St Bride's Centre 6-7.30 pm Friday 11 July Peter Johnstone: International Organ Quartet