Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Put four men into a corner and give them free range to be as exuberant as they like and the result is something akin to watching a favourite flower bloom over and over again before your eyes. As part of the first International Jazz Festival to ever to be held in Liverpool, Victor Nordberg, Andreas Haberln, Eric Animan and Colin Morton dazzled the crowd as A Sharp Trio featuring Eric Aninan in the main foyer of the Capstone Theatre and the smiles from all assembled were visible and appreciative.

This appreciation was garnered and enhanced by the fact that the foursome weren’t advertised to be performing. For all those that had come out of the Robert Mitchell performance in good cheer and blown away by what they had witnessed in the lecture theatre, were then given a further polished but laid back hour as a small bonus.

An extra treat in the mix was in the way that Eric Animan interacted with the band on his saxophone, a real delight in brass performance which set of the band perfectly. Taking their inspiration for their set from the Great American Songbook, the four men took the jazz enthusiasts through their paces with tracks such as Stella By Starlight, The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers, Straight No Chaser and A Child is Born.

The open setting that was provided for the combo exactly suited the mood that was taken by the audience. As a surprise offering by the organisers it was hard to beat such a toe-tapping experience and to see Eric Animan take the saxophone to task and keep it in time with Andrea Halberln’s keyboards was just sensational.

With other performers due to take their various places within the Capstone Theatre’s complex, the foursome finished their set with a great version of Satin Doll. This was astonishing performance by all four men and especially by Eric Animan on saxophone, a revelation.

Ian D. Hall