By Mike Redfern

The Gabriel Palatchi Trio received two standing ovations, one after the other, as they played the final two numbers in a pulsating concert before a sold out house at Studio 64 on Saturday night (Sept. 5).

And no wonder the audience was so enthusiastic. The musicality and sheer energy of the trio as they pumped out a sequence of rhythmic, South American flavoured original numbers by Palatchi, along with some Palatchi twists to familiar jazz covers, was exciting to say the least. It was also loud enough to be heard several parishes away.

Ostensibly a jazz concert, the opener for a four-concert Live at Studio 64 jazz and blues series presented by Kimberley Arts Council, this performance went far beyond jazz, or even Latin jazz, as it was billed.

Palatchi grew up in Argentina, the land of the tango, and he brought that dramatic rhythm, along with samba, reggae, African, gypsy, and funk rhythms to this performance. Playing the grand piano and Nord Electro keyboard and synthesizer, sometimes simultaneously, his fingers at times whirred like a humming bird’s wings, at others pounded out the chords in a manner pretty unfamiliar to that elegant grand piano.

The dynamic tempo of the piano and keyboard was more than reinforced by the electrifying drumming of Tony Ferraro, an old favourite at Studio 64 who has appeared here twice before backing other touring artists. Centre stage, Ferraro and his flying drumsticks could easily have stolen the show from a lesser artist than Palatchi. And grounding the rhythm on five-string electric bass was another familiar musician, Doug Stephenson, also making a return appearance at Studio 64.

These two seriously talented Kootenay musicians are accompanying Palatchi on the B.C. Interior part of his CD release tour, promoting his third album, Trivolution, released in Mexico City this June.

The tour continues through the West Kootenay and Boundary regions during September before Palatchi takes off for Ontario and Quebec, there to continue the Canadian portion of a tour, which started in Mexico and will extend to Argentina and Europe.

Meanwhile, the Live at Studio 64 fall jazz and blues series continues with a master jazz combo, the Tyler Hornby B3 Trio on Saturday, September 26, followed by Calgary blues band, Alittle Voodoo, on October 17, and ‘lounge’ jazz pianist Alan Brecker and his quartet on November 21.

A three-concert pass can be had for $60 if you are a member of the Kimberley Arts Council, $66 if not. Similarly, individual concert tickets can be had for $22 members, $24 non-members.

I’d tell you the ticket price at the door but the chances are that there won’t be any tickets left to sell at the door as these concerts now regularly sell out in advance. So call 250-427-4919 or email [email protected] to make sure you get yours.

Photos by Rod Wilson

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