InReview InReview

SA QLD
Support independent journalism

Music

Nick Parnell: Vibes Virtuoso

Music

Glorified elevator music? Not on your life! This synergy of syncopation, melodic maladies and crisp classics carries you on a journey of sound with vibraphonist Nick Parnell and pianist Amir Farid.

The vibraphone breaks new ground and the perception of percussion is challenged as Gershwin meets Handel meets Paganini.

Playing at Adelaide’s Space Theatre as part of an Australian tour to celebrate his third album, Vibes Virtuoso, Parnell welcomes us into the world of challenge, risk and reward. His determination to reinterpret musical creations, unashamedly and at times provocatively, is enhanced with personal narrative, linking music to context and adding another dimension to the resonance of the keys.

From a technical point of view, Parnell and Farid are the consummate duo. The mallets (all four of them; think antennae ears) caress and intimidate the keys while piano forte accompaniment provides exquisite balance; timing is faultless. It is no surprise when our virtuoso expounds that this is music that speaks to me. From baroque to burlesque, this is professional delivery of aural enjoyment.

Vibes Virtuoso is a taster’s platter of sounds: intoxication of tones in Satie’s “Gymnopédie No 2” is contrasted by the staccato and legato that heralds Handel’s “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”. Parnell’s years of international experience and recognition combine to drive this show on; US vibraphone legend Gary Burton (with whom he studied) would be proud.

What is most refreshing about Vibes Virtuoso is the freshness of artists who “break the rules”. Parnell takes what is meant to be a complementary instrument and places it centre stage; he is brazen and able to carry an audience with him as he confronts preconception with his right foot on the throttle of enjoyment.

This is not a rave scene but it is one that will take musical appreciators to a new level of contemplation. Nick Parnell, you can take a bow, and it is certainly a highlight when you do.

Nick Parnell played at the Space Theatre on Friday and Saturday. His album, Vibes Virtuoso, is available now.

Make a comment View comment guidelines

Support local arts journalism

Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.

Donate Here

Comments

Show comments Hide comments
Will my comment be published? Read the guidelines.

. You are free to republish the text and graphics contained in this article online and in print, on the condition that you follow our republishing guidelines.

You must attribute the author and note prominently that the article was originally published by InReview.  You must also inlude a link to InReview. Please note that images are not generally included in this creative commons licence as in most cases we are not the copyright owner. However, if the image has an InReview photographer credit or is marked as “supplied”, you are free to republish it with the appropriate credits.

We recommend you set the canonical link of this content to https://inreview.com.au/inreview/music/2014/05/05/nick-parnell-vibes-virtuoso/ to insure that your SEO is not penalised.

Copied to Clipboard

More Music stories

Loading next article