With the pandemic still restricting live performances, the vivid sounds of Jazz re:freshed’s Re:fest took place in a livestreamed festival from The Mill Studios in London on 23 August.

The organisation recently received the AIM Best Independent Label and is nominated for Jazz FM’s Digital and Innovation Awards, and the night testified to the recognition. All six acts impressed, and the sequencing and camerawork, which afforded viewers close-ups of musicians’ hands and communication with each other, was delivered seamlessly.

Golden Mean (Matt Davies, drums; Lyle Barton, keys; Tom Driessler, bass; Luke Wynter, guitar) opened with their EP Through Walls, a collection of funky fugues with complex time signatures and harmonies. Drummer Jas Kayser played from her EP The Unforced Rhythm of Grace. Her set opened with an exploring, simmering improvisation before her band (Daisy George, double bass; Rupert Cox, keys; Mark Hurrell, tenor sax; Christos Stylianides, trumpet) gained momentum into “Ku Variations”. 

Finish reading at Jazzwise.com, and watch the livestream here.