A few familiar faces took the stage at Hot House on October 11th. Trumpeter Suzan Veneman had already appeared with her own sextet in January, and guitarist Guillermo Celano played with Michael Moore in December 2024. Both were back at the Qbus last Saturday, this time with Undercurrent Trio & Suzan Veneman.
"Yes, it's jazz, and it's always a little different. And that's what makes it so much fun" according to saxophonist Iman Spaargaren in his short but clear explanation of the music of his Undercurrent Trio. "Recently we were on tour in America, and Suzan wasn't there...that was...well..." Suzan Veneman is indeed the perfect addition to the trio. With her tone and technique, the trio gains considerable in dynamics and improvisation. The Argentinian rhythm section - Guillermo Celano (guitar) and Marcos Baggiani (drums) - perform without bassist, creating a certain lightness, with unexpected pauses and breaks, but also slowly emerging grooves.
The band released the album "Cloud Song" in 2024. During the concert they played compositions from the album including the title track and "Buenos Aires Revisited." Argentinian rhythms, and after the intermission, a strong American sound in "The Great Unwinding," featuring a fantastic solo by Suzan Veneman. Dutch literature graced the stage in "Osewoudt & Dorbeck", inspired by W.F. Hermans' "De Donkere Kamer van Damocles."
This concert offered plenty of beautiful moments: the solos by Spaargaren and Celano in "Cloud Song" and the beautifully built tension between drums and guitar in "Buenos Aires Revisited.”
Undercurrent Trio & Suzan Veneman played at
Hot House in the Qbus on October 11th.
Iman Spaargaren (saxophone, clarinet) / Suzan Veneman (trumpet) / Guillermo Celano (guitar) / Marcos Baggiani (drums)
