Dee Byrne at Two Ship. Photo by Tullis Rennie

Two Ship free improvisation nights at The Nest

In Hastings Old Town, a dedicated free improvisation music evening has been running since July at The Nest, the former town hall in the High Street. Nick Weekes was keen to review it for HOT.

“Two Ship” is a relatively new addition to the varied nightlife of the Hastings weekend and its positioning right in the heart of the Old Town is a significant enrichment for the musically curious.

The gig is run by Olie Brice, Tullis Rennie and Tania De Saint Croix. They’ve lined up a cool selection of performers to see us through the winter and into next year. If you know of London clubs like The Vortex and Café OTO you’ll find this familiar, but it’s in Hastings, at the weekend and for only £6. They tell me that a festival is planned for next spring too.

Into the unknown with Dee Byrne, Olie Brice and Rachel Musson

There is much jazz in this music but its primary aim is to veer quickly into the unknown. Dazzling chops and licks and so forth are thrown in to the mix with more abstract sounds of interest as the performers weave their way through landscapes and textures that may be tranquil, ornate, fidgety or brutal.

Olie Brice and Rachel Musson. Photo by Tullis Rennie.

I found myself drifting out of the window (feet first) during Dee Byrne’s (saxophone and electronics) mystical solo performance with the music at the front of my conscious dreaming, seamlessly connecting Coltrane-like runs, industrial sounds and beautiful ambiences.

A highlight of the set was a long loop made from rattling the workings of the instrument that wove into a delicate and urban Africana jam. Delicious and expertly delivered. Outside, autumn storm conditions thrashed at the shop windows and people worked their way up and down the High Street.

Next up, Olie Brice (double bass) and Rachel Musson (saxophone) treated us to a dynamic and somewhat aggressive episode. Rachel’s growling sax at one point evoked massive sheets of glass breaking. Olie’s bass jumped beween dazzling arpeggios, angry slapping about and vigorous sawing. Somehow they instantly switched from this mood to a watery and elegant murmuration of harmonics, quite stunning and one of the many ‘on a sixpence’ manoeuvres that practically indicated telepathy.

All of it was cathartic, nourishing, inspirational, mind bogglingly good and jazzy.

Coming up – Two Ship: Sonics Special is on Saturday 29 October.

Featuring Tara Franks (cello) with Tullis Rennie (electronics); and Caroline Kraabel (sax) with Sofia Vaisman Maturana (cello).

The Nest, High Street, Old Town Hastings TN34 3EW.
Saturday 29 October, doors open 7pm, music at 7.30. Admission £6 on the door or £5 in advance.

Be there or be square!

Also in: Music & Sound