Fire! Orchestra at Copenhagen Jazz Festival

I caught this magnificent act during Copenhagen's annual jazz festival. With some 12 (or was it 13) horn players, including head honcho and out of this world saxophone player Mats Gustafson, two female vocalists, bassist, two guitarists, drummer of funk and a mad keyboard/organ pouncer - this group literally sounded like a wild invasion of Huns.

The gig took place at a small venue simply called Jazzhouse. A somewhat stylish and cool little joint with ruby red colours ornamenting here and there, and a small plateau behind the main stage's sound booth, where people like me go for the best sound experience north of Cairo. I was there that night as well - ever so slightly above the sweating crowds just in front of the stage.

What hit me right from the get-go was the overwhelmingly powerful sound of Mats' saxophone. Holy sh*t! That thing sliced through the airwaves like a flying chainsaw. Rapping, tapping, roaring, tooting, screeching, bobbing, swooping elegantly and ferociously overhead.....and with that huge reed section in the back the feel of it all surpassed that of the old school big bands - even the ones that took their cue from the avantguarde like Sun Ra.

How does it feel attending one of these shows you might ask? Well imagine yourself in the midst of this giant bird cage. Surrounding you is a frantic horde of blackbirds on LSD trying to harmonize this utterly bewildering love song. It's groovy like sauce, psychedelic in a larval and sweaty kind of way and altogether rambunctious like an old Willy's Jeep navigating sheer bedrock.

The warmth of all these people packed into a rather small space - coupled together with a humid and hot summernight additionally made this into an extremely hot experience. I was already dripping with sweat after 10 minutes.
I could've stopped moving rhythmically to the beat, sure, but the driving groove and funk of this band persuaded me not to....or maybe that was the beers talking.

The two vocalists suddenly appear!! Wow I'd almost forgotten about them. They ooze into the music that by now has developed this earthy heartbeat and is moving forth almost by telepathic powers. Words that aren't words linger on the air and now they take us into the jungle with beautiful mumbojumbo and sensuous highpitched whispers. Oh my word I'm in love!

Speaking of women: I saw quite a few there as well as old people, hipsters, hippies and a fair few who obviously weren't aware of what they'd just stepped into. Damn that was funny!!! Looking at these terrified faces during a sudden burst of torturised horn is what I live for. There are other things as well, but that ranks high on my list.

I guess I am painting a picture of this looneybin outfit, but that is not at all what Fire! Orchestra is about. It's about feel and nerve. Improvisation within rehearsed grooves yet with a firm grip on things - always managing to sound together. If you're sitting out there with a hard on for jazz rock or just music that relies on reeds, then you've hit the motherload if these cats decides to swing by your neighbourhood.
It is one of the most rewarding live experiences I've ever had the pleasure of attending.

Two thirds into the gig Mats decides to do a Zappa. He starts conducting the remaining reed players into this cacophonous riff that in no way should work...but it does. It reaches around the music and cuts it up into little tiny pieces - all at the same time. Everyone's mesmerized. 'How did he just do that?'

Well it's music baby.



Edited by Guldbamsen - July 26 2015 at 16:49

I was....though only a bit. It was rather late into the show that I realised just how much dough I was dishing out for beers. Wow that was painful...........even more so the day after. 

Next Friday it's my turn. I'm going!

I'm sure I won't Thanks for the review, it helped with the decision

The concert last night was amazing, one of the best live experiences ever! 

Me too. There was so much happening all the time, that I could watch the same concert over and over

There were 19 musicians, I think it's the full band.

I'll check them later, thanks! :)

Thanks Audun, I really appreciate it!

....and yes call me Nostradamus, but I am absolutely certain that you'd go completely apefeaces for this band live. They are a true force to be reckoned with.

ahh wow wish I'll be able to see them one day :O ever since you posted them here I'm addicted to "Exit"!