Adam Page And Tim Bennett: Two Musical Worlds Collide… And It’s Wonderful! ~ Adelaide Fringe 2019 Review

[MUSIC ~ WORLD PREMIERE ~ SA] The Wheatsheaf Hotel – Tin Shed, Wed 27 Feb. Of late Adam Page has been busy in the world of classical and jazz rather in the act of improvised loop pedal magic, where many of us first fell under his spell. Unusually, Adam takes to the stage with just a single instrument – his saxophone. But he is joined by the amazing Tim Bennett on bass. Tim is able to make his bass guitar sing. Usually a pedal and effects board is driven by just one musician, but here the effects and the foot button pressing is a shared task – fascinating to watch! It’s an improvised set, though no doubt there has been some thought as to how the set is constructed and some of the jokes and musical jokes to be played along the way. The initial sounds are jazz, but as the gig progresses there is funk, pop, rock and hip-hop – along with beat boxing. There is also some healthy audience interaction, with a bit of banter, plenty of hi-fives, which some of the children in the audience keep feeding. The willing crowd helps to provide some of the voice harmony sounds that are strung together as a hilariously funny melody on an iPhone, which is then handed to an audience member to try to make work – its comic gold! And there is a near return to Adam’s old habit of looping the sounds of vegetables – in this case from an extended pun around beet boxing… while Tim creates a salad, live on stage. This show is not quite what you’d expect, but then it is just the kind of silliness you might anticipate with these two wonderful, funny and very talented musicians get together. It’s a child-friendly musical loop inspired romp. 4 stars Clayton Werner Adam Page and Tim Bennett continues at The Wheatsheaf Hotel – Tin Shed from 7pm until Wed 13 Mar. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 621 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ADLfringe