Billy Marrows performs his Penelope suite at The Vortex

When guitarist Billy Marrows released his debut album Penelope earlier this year, it was met with much critical acclaim. The suite of compositions, which were composed in tribute to his mother who he sadly lost to cancer last year, provide an intensely personal insight into Marrows’ unique musical mind and his experience of grief. This performance at The Vortex featuring his 12-piece Grande Família big band was a wonderful chance to experience these intriguing arrangements afresh in a live context.

Marrows’ guitar playing is full of subtlety and harmonic depth – much like the colourful impressionistic brushstrokes featured on his album art. Highlights included the delicate chord melody of the ‘Penelope’ overture, the intimate duet with viola on ‘February (anjo)’, and the joyous Latin rhythms on ‘A Grande Família’. Whether playing solo, leading a small instrument grouping, or accompanying the larger ensemble, Marrows’ melodic intuition always shone through.

The wider band was comprised of big characters and full of improvisational flair. The rhythm section of Angus Bayley on piano, Jonas Mbanu on electric bass, and Ben Brown on drums deserve special mention for keeping the momentum high, deftly navigating their way through subtle bossa novas and syncopated shuffles. Tom Ridout on tenor and soprano saxophones and Gustavo Clayton Marucci on bass clarinet provided particularly memorable solos, as did Chris Williams on alto and Mike Soper on trumpet. These impassioned moments of improvisation were the high points of the gig, bringing a sense of spontaneity that elevated Marrows’ nuanced arrangements. The overall result was raw and emotionally engaging.

The audience was also given some early previews of material that will be included on a new EP that is set to be released in near future. Exciting times certainly lie ahead for Billy and the rest of his band.