Review: THE IDEA OF NORTH's Beautiful A Cappella Concert GROOVE SESSIONS Makes For An Enjoyable Afternoon At Independent Theatre's Prelude In Tea: Song Series Concert
By: Jade Kops Feb. 19, 2018
Sunday 18th February 2018, 3:30pm Independent Theatre North Sydney
Australian A Capella group THE IDEA OF NORTH delighted the North Sydney audience with their performance of GROOVE SESSIONS at Independent Theatre's Prelude In Tea Song Series concert. The recently expanded quintet was the latest to feature in Independent Theatre's regular Sunday ritual of afternoon tea and music.
Established in 1993, the group of 5 vocalists, which still includes one original member, has been entrancing audiences with their ARIA award winning smooth jazz for a quarter of a century. For the current configuration of the group, founding member, tenor Nick Begbie (Canberra) is joined by alto Naomi Crellin (Adelaide), soprano Emma Rule (Melbourne), bass Luke Thompson (Adelaide) and newest addition, vocal percussionist Kai Kitamura (Tokyo). The quintet has an easy rapport with Begbie and Crellin leading the banter in between the incredible arrangements of well known jazz and pop standards along with gospel, comic and older more obscure works which the group give new life. There is a lovely adoration and respect exhibited between the group which, whilst seeming relatively formal, have a delicious sense of mischief. The 'unseen' member of the group is sound designer Grant Whitehead who tries to be inconspicuous in the audience as he manipulates the group's microphones which are the only artificial adjustment to the natural voices, allowing reverb to echo and particularly Kitamura's impressive human drum kit to be heard.
The two hour concert (with interval) commenced with an engaging Michael Jackson tribute before leading into The Beatles' Eleanor Rigby after a relaxed introduction by Begbie. Other works include a considered and languid version of Cold Chisel's Flame Trees, a poignant expression of Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi and a sultry rendition of George and Ira Gershwin's Embracable You. They also include a number of comic pieces like Ed Farley's There Ain't No One Like You and The Cat, a tribute to Adelaide musician Mike Stewart. The voices blend beautifully with arrangements that showcase the voices and the personalities and all performers ensure that they connect to the work and express the emotion to the audience with ease and passion. While most of the concert is amplified, the unmic'd encore, presented by Begbie, Crellin, Rule and Thompson, demonstrates the group's vocal ability to fill the Independent Theatre without electronic intervention, providing a moving rendition of Scottish traditional song The Parting Glass.
Whilst Kitamura remains relatively quiet during the patter between songs, Crellin's statement that he pulls focus is definitely true, leading him to try to vanish from stage when not required with amusing results. Thankfully he is given time to share his story and his talents whilst the remaining 4 rest, presenting a highly amusing series of examples of his ability to mimic sounds, from buses to jet engines.
Whilst THE IDEA OF NORTH's appearance was for one afternoon only, hopefully the success of the Independent Theatre concert will encourage them to return soon. Well worth seeing if you can get hold of a ticket.
THE IDEA OF NORTH can be seen next at Adelaide Fringe Festival.
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