Canadian Laila Biali performed at the 10th anniversary of Porvoo Jazz Festival in a venue better suited for heavy metal.
Canadian pianist and singer Laila Biali’s concert in Porvoo on in the old locomotive shed built in 1907 was one of those rare jazz recitals heard this year in Finland that turned sour, if only for the venue.
Biali and her talented group, including Canadian double bassist George Koller and Finnish drummer Jaska Lukkarinen, who played a solid swinging beat with style—and performed live with the trio for the first time—made the crowd sway to the pulse of jazz standards, such as “Autumn Leaves.”
Biali’s voice echoed from the red brick walls and high notes floated under the Cathedral-like ceiling while people during the quieter parts walked and talked on the floor covered with gravel adding an odd polyrhythmic twist to most of the set.
Piano-powered jazz and gravel stomping can’t coexist peacefully.
Fortunately, during the loudest numbers, when Biali worked on non-jazz standards such as “Heart of Gold,” by Neil Young, the power of the drums and the voice of Biali and the hammering of the keys were enough to hide any disharmony.
All this left the listener wondering, how Biali would sound in a more acoustically suited venue.
