Laid-back jazz at the Dome

BOYS KEEP SWINGING: Wellington jazz trio Ol’ King Cole made up of guitarist Callum Allardice (left), Louis Thompson-Munn piano and vocals, and Tom Botting on double bass bring the sound of Nat Cole swing to the Dome Bar on Wednesday. Picture supplied Picture supplied

The spirit of the old house band, when bar patrons danced the night away, makes a comeback with jazz trio Ol’ King Cole’s performance in Gisborne on Wednesday.

Made up of Louis Thompson-Munn on piano and vocals, guitarist Callum Allardice and Tom Botting on double bass, Ol’ King Cole’s laid-back jazz programme comprises hits by mid-20th century American jazz pianist and vocalist Nat Cole and his trio.

The Wellington-based jazz trio describes its sound as derived from a time in which there was no iPod and no Spotify, “just musicians in a room making sweet sounds for other humans”.

Nat Cole’s musical roots lay in the big band sound of the 1930s and ’40s. His trio’s jazz sound is closer to swing than that of “free jazz”, a form of jazz that does away with fixed chord changes and tempos. Ol’ King Cole performs in a traditional style of swing. Even so, improvisation is the crux of jazz, says Thompson-Munn.

“You play the melodies then you get to explore and play and express yourself that way.”

Pieces by Nat Cole have been transcribed for the Wellington jazz trio.

“We have a bunch of arrangements Nat’s trio used to play. After that you have free reign. You have room to make trades with the other musicians. You keep your ears open.”

As with the King Cole Trio, the Wellington jazz band’s sound is driven by piano, guitar, vocals but no drums.

“The pulse is kept by the guitar in a Freddie Green, ‘chunk-chunk-chunk’, strum style, and the double bass. The walking bass line keeps the tempo.”

Ol’ King Cole perform the hits of Nat Cole and his trio and other artists of Cole’s era, the Dome Bar, Wednesday at 7.30pm. Earlybird tickets $20 from the Aviary. Door sales $30 dollars, students $10.