The GAB Trio create moments of ‘Braziliance’ Upstairs at Ronnie’s

Performing as part of the Braziliance series Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s, the GAB Trio put on a thrilling gig which blended the boundaries of jazz, samba, tango, flamenco, and bossa nova. Guitarists Gianluca Corona and Clement Regert were joined by Steve Taylor on percussion, and each musicians’ sophisticated respect for world musical traditions was matched by their virtuosic improvisational abilities.

The minimalist trio setting really brought out the character of each bandmember. Although Corona and Regert played identical Godin nylon string guitars, their playing styles offered striking and complementary contrast. Corona is a wonderfully quintessential Latin guitarist and can move seamlessly between breezy bossa strumming patterns and impassioned Andalusian flamenco. Regert’s playing was more obviously influenced by straight-ahead jazz, his lines chromatic, bluesy, and modern sounding. Regert’s use of an octave pedal was a real textural asset, providing a chunky low end during Corona’s delicately plucked solos. Taylor was the rhythmic backbone of the trio, sat atop a cajon and surrounded by multiple cowbells, snare drums, shakers, and a crash cymbal.

The chemistry between Regert and Corona was reminiscent of past Latin-jazz fusion pairings: Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin, Stan Getz and João Gilberto, Chick Corea and Airto Moreira. The trio’s setlist was fresh and imaginative. It included two seductive numbers by Astor Piazzolla, the fiery Argentine Tango bandoneon player and composer. The trio also performed Latin-tinged reharmonisations of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and Radiohead’s ‘Exit Music (For A Film)’, among other re-worked pop tunes by Cyndi Lauper and Stevie Wonder. Tastefully chosen for their melodic strength and adaptability into Latin grooves, these re-worked compositions brought a uplifting energy and subtle sense of humour to the evening.

Two of the tunes also featured vocalists. Bea Asurmendi joined for an original flamenco power ballad dedicated to her recently deceased grandparents, and Corina Kwami expertly navigated her way through the twisting harmonies of Baden-Powell and Vinicius’ ‘Samba Em Prelúdio’. The perfect music to accompany the fast approach of summer in London.