The Quiet Side Of Rai Thistlewayte: Whispers Of Music In The Air ~ Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2022 Review

[CABARET ~ WORLD PREMIERE ~ AUS] Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre. Fri 16 Jun. Rai Thistlewayte has many strings to his musical bow and tonight we are treated to more of his jazz sensibilities than his rock/pop Thirsty Merc side. With Adelaide’s award winning jazz guitarist James Muller and Perth’s Ben Vanderwal on drums and electronic percussion, this trio has the audience with them, often earning applause mid song, especially through the first part of the show. Both James and Ben have played alongside Thistlewayte before, but tonight there is a current of spontaneity and fun underpinning the performance, with Rai grinning, relaxed and clearly enjoying his bandmates’ improvisations. A strict set list with defined solos is NOT the approach taken by Thistlewayte tonight, and this allows for some surprising shifts in rhythm and musical styles along the way. As the performance continues it veers close to a jam vibe, with the band consulting on stage what to play next and in what style. Thistlewayte’s musical prowess is clearly vast. Using a synth to play bass with his left hand, while soloing on grand piano with his right whilst singing, he chooses songs which range from a reggae beat to the breezy feel of San Francisco Street to the encore’s extended rendition of Night And Day. Ben Vanderwal’s use of electronic percussion to augment his exceptionally smooth acoustic drumming adds rhythmic layers, especially so in Whack Hop. Muller’s mastery is also clearly on display, especially in the more rehearsed first section of the performance. Occasionally all three find they have gone off on tangents and need to find their way back, which is all part of the fun. Those expecting soft jazz versions of Thirsty Merc songs or a night of jazz standards from this misnamed show might be surprised, but tonight’s performance is much more than this. It is skilled hands taking risks and ultimately coming out trumps. 4 stars Cathy Tune #TheClothesline #AdCabFest Image courtesy of Claudio Raschella