As soon as the Trio finished Thelonius Monk’s “Brilliant Corners, the KC Jazz Club exploded in applause. Some music is not listened to: it is experienced, your body vibrating like a window to the world.
Such was the evening spent with pianist, Geoffrey Keezer, bassist Mike Pope, and drummer Billy Kilson. They transported us to wherever the song was.
Not everything was as intensely visceral as “Brilliant Corners” happens to be. They had begun the evening with a Stevie Wonder tune and then followed “Corners” with a couple of John Lennon songs, just as visceral but in a summer breeze sort of way.
And then singer Gillian Margot joined the trio on stage, to throw her bluesy, sultry voice into the mix.
From original compositions like Ms. Margot’s “Black Butterfly” to original arrangements like a jazzy “Suddenly I See” by Katie Comstock, the quartet rocked the audience with a wide variety of orchestrations.
Billy Kilson’s drums were definitely a wonder to behold: never has a drummer’s hands and arms and legs and body moved in such syncopated delirium. To look at Kilson in his state of “drum” is to lose yourself in a flurry.
And Keezer’s piano is no less complex, seemingly layered in infinity as chords and flurries roll on top of one another like mirrored waterfalls, each falling at a different speed “to a lifeless ocean.”
Pope’s bass only added to this “dome of pleasure” with is deep, resonant bass.
Ms. Margot’s “Yesterday’s Blue” highlighted her performance. Engaging and intimate, she had the crowd only wanting more.
They finished the evening with another delightful composition by Stevie Wonder, “Flower Power”.
The Geoffrey Keezer Trio has a new album coming out soon. I’m sure it will be well worth the waiting for.
Running Time: 75 minutes.
The Geoffrey Keezer Trio performed on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Gallery – 2700 F Street, NW, in Washington, DC. For the full season at the Jazz Club go online.
