Phronesis : Pitch Black – Purcell Room, London

. .“ were the first words Jasper Høiby, the founder, leader, doublebassist and main composer of the Phronesis trio said to address the audience. The small comic relief openned the gate to the personality of the trio who as was later apparent, have almost a theatrical charisma and extreme dynamic ranges.

The music was not to be comic at all. The previously stated masterplan was to have a concert in near complete darkness to experience both Høiby's sister's path to blindness and our own potentially half-lucid experience of music and surroundings. “First half of the concert will be in light, so enjoy while you can.“ Høiby corrected the uninformed with a smile.

The first part of the concert stated some highly complex compositions, exploring expanded harmonic and complex rhythmic soundscapes yet somehow naturally pulling the listener to a very intimate sonic space.

Then came the second section, the music started with no introduction from Høiby and slowly the light dimmed into complete darkness drawing the people even closer to the music. The framework was more and more elaborate and the musicians exceeded in their counterpointed improvisations and compositions.

The drummer's Anton Eger's style seems to touch upon everything from drum'n'bass and metal, to latin american and jazz influences, not to mention the ellaborate polyrhythms, however at no point do you hear a specific genre, it is very much their own. Ivo Neame, the pianist carries a strong harmonic approach and often takes over the bass lines to let Jasper Høiby explore the melodic high register of the doublebass.

The performance ends in reappearing light and is followed by a Q&A with the audience. Overall, the concert was a fenomenal and innovative experience, both musicaly and artistically.

– Mak Murtic