Atlanticus go deep for Ocean Suite at All Saints Church, Hove

The Jazz Suite is a relatively rare art-form (apologies to Shostakovich, who doesn’t count) – possibly because the centrality of spontaneous improvisation in jazz means that it doesn’t obviously recommend itself to programmatic composition. There are however some honourable exceptions to this rule: Ellington and Strayhorn’s ‘Such Sweet Thunder’ is possibly the most familiar, but the UK scene has also contributed to the genre, from Stan Tracey’s immortal ‘Under Milk Wood’ to Alan Barnes’ explorations of Dickens.

To this list we must now add the UK/US collaborative outfit Atlanticus, currently touring their Ocean Suite. It’s a forty-five-minute suite of music composed by the band’s joint leaders, pianist Terry Seabrook (here on Hammond throughout) and tenor saxophonist (and Washington DC native) Peter Fraize, inspired by the the plight of the world’s oceans, and accompanied by a specially commissioned video piece edited by Rikki Borkum, which plays on a large screen set up behind the band. Today’s performance is in the spectacular Victorian Gothic of All Saint’s Church in Hove, with the ocean itself gleaming invitingly at the end of the street.

There’s a packed house to witness the band revving up with the straight-up bluesy swing of ‘Blue Haven’ - trumpeter Jack Kendon demonstrates his fluency in the authentic bop language, floating effortlessly over Milo Fell’s driving shuffle. Then the suite commences: described as ‘a contemplation of the ocean’s awesome majesty and our responsibilities to it’, it’s divided into five sections, each with its accompanying video. So for the first section, Kendon’s lovely clear tone and incisive melodic imagination assist our contemplation of the beauty of the seas, while Milo Fell’s drums artfully evoke the thunder of the breakers and the spray of the spume: for ‘Diversity’ footage of the noble polar bear aloft upon the ice floe is accompanied by post-bop powerhouse Fraize’s fluid, warm-toned Breckerisms, while Seabrook’s driving Hammond matches the swell and power of the waves.

While the solos are kept short, everyone manages to pack a succinct punch and the band can really swing: but the thematic composition is foremost, with each section flowing into the next. ‘Choices’ deals with our exploitation of the earth’s resources, segueing into ‘Impact’, a sombre ballad underscoring the images of pollution and overfishing, contrasting with the uplifting Tyneresque ‘Finale’. The writing uses a range of contemporary language that’s hip but accessible, with an audible British or US accent from each composer: each section is carefully considered to fit the subject matter, with some neat programmatic touches to pique the attention - quotes from nautical themed material like ‘Dolphin Dance’ and ‘How Deep Is the Ocean’ and other subtler references abound - and the band show their touring mettle, playing together superbly in ensemble and each shining individually in solo.

It’s a successful melding of media that makes for a diverting spectacle with a genuinely moving climax: the message is clear and the music is great. For the encore, Fraize leads us all in a sing-along mash-up of Ellington and Washington go-go swing: it’s a fittingly triumphant conclusion.