Live review: Jim Rattigan at Pizza Express, Soho

When was the last time you heard a French horn on a jazz record? For accompaniment purposes, Miles Davis’ The Birth of the Cool and John Coltrane’s Africa/Brass spring to mind. But used as a solo instrument in the manner of Jim Rattigan – that is undoubtably rare. With an impressive background in classical music, Rattigan has made a remarkable transition into the jazz scene in recent years. This live performance at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho was the launch of his latest album, Duos.

The gig comprised three sets, each featuring a different accompanist to mirror the triple CD structure of Duos. The first set featured pianist Hans Koller and comprised entirely of Thelonious Monk compositions. Rattigan’s warm vibrato and mellow timbre were a fantastic fit for the haunting melodies of tunes such as ‘Round Midnight’ and ‘Ruby My Dear’, and he displayed amazing dexterity on the angular  up-tempo ‘Trinkle, Tinkle’. Koller provided playful and elegant accompaniment, a great match for Monk’s wonky style.

The second set featured guitarist Nick Costley-White. Blending the styles of Joe Pass and Jim Hall, the young guitarist expertly made up for the lack of rhythm section with a whirlwind of cluster chords, bass notes, and improvised lines. They dug deep into the Bill Evans songbook, performing ‘Very Early, ‘My Funny Valentine’, and ‘You Must Believe in Spring’. The highlight of the set was a reinterpretation ‘If I Could Write a Book’, which featured courageously fast bebop lines from Rattigan over swinging chordal accompaniment.

The closing set featured pianist Ivo Neame, and together they performed three Rattigan originals ‘Ishaya’, ‘Elegy’, and ‘A Hero’s Path’, as well as a highly deconstructed rearrangement of ‘Chelsea Bridge’ by Neame. Their semi-improvised reinterpretation of Alexander Glazunoz’s ‘Reverie’ was particularly intriguing, a quintessential piece of classical horn repertoire performed here with refreshing spontaneity and creative freedom.

The French horn does not possess the natural agility of a saxophone or trumpet. However, it’s mellow, brassy sound is perfect for lyrical ballads and well-known standards, and this shines through especially shines mostly clearly in a stripped back musical setting. Rattigan has certainly hit upon a winning formula with his Duos concept.