SoundTrack web extra: Vertigo Jazz Project

As the first musical bars sing out across the hall, the crowd stops in their tracks, ears prick up and the 1 – 2 – 3 syncopated rhythms fall into place as Asheville’s Vertigo Jazz Project jumps right into the beat. The drums kick in tight, loud and steady, with rolls on the snare and taps on the hi-hats. The heads of the audience bob to the sound, The music then crawls down spines before it hits the hips and runs to get the feet moving. The Grey Eagle comes alive and people are soon stepping to the fast paced musical fusion resonating from the stage.

Vertigo Jazz Project headlined a recent show, playing in the middle of the night’s lineup, between Kung Fu Dynamite and The Mantras, both regional bands.

Upon first hearing VJP, one wonders if the style can be called jazz. Ryan Reardon, the band’s newest member, plays a bass that is pulsing, riding a fine line of funk. Preston Cate plays a mean guitar, flicking his fingers to the far edges of the frets with rock-style solos. Upon a closer listen though, the scales are familiar, following a sequential progression of chords that says, “That is jazz!.” Dancers are moving to the improved yet right-in-time snare that lays the foundation for the whole musical experience.

Vertigo Jazz Project pushes the limits of jazz to the breaking point, creating a synthesis of stylized music while still staying within the limits of the most adapted music to come out of the 20th century. When they play, they do so in that smooth, free-form style that defines jazz.

In the middle of the set, VJP tried a few slower songs and struggled to hold their groove, if only briefly. During the fast paced songs, VJP is on. Songs like “Hobakiss,” (where the keyboard runs a race) and “Infinity Line” (with a tip-tap drum line and all the musicians taking solo) make the mark. During these numbers, the audience lights up. 

One highlight of a VJP show is the guests they feature throughout the set. Matt Williams (The Ocean) stepped in on raging fiddle, and Jonathan Scales (Jonathon Scale’s Fourchestra) closed the last set with a steel drum collaboration. This range of music brings the band to touch on very different sounds, but still distinctively Vertigo Jazz Project. Justin Powell’s fast fingers on keyboard also stood out when appropriate, coming alive to really shake things up and keep things fresh.

VJP has steadily progressed since its debut and continues to hit hard and play with soul. As the band’s show at They Grey Eagle confirmed, they delivered a captivating musical experience that has all the elements of jazz, and expands into a bigger realm of sound.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.