Corrie Dick is on tour this month throughout the UKwww.corriedick.com

The upstart Glasgewian drummer Corrie Dick visited Cambridge this week with his Impossible Things ensemble as they criss-cross the county touring their (almost) new self-titled album. The show was presented by Cambridge Modern Jazz Club (an organization rather than a club as the venue) at the exquisite Hidden Rooms on Jesus Lane. The space, located below the famous Pitt Club, is split into a room with a bar (great selection of cocktails – no pints on tap however) and a music room. This sonic space, much like the music, has the distinct feel of modern jazz clubs in New York City with its low ceilings, mismatched chairs and rumblings from the floor above (the subway system in New York, the upstairs restaurant in Cambridge).

Impossible Things, released in late 2015, was on full display this evening as the ensemble performed the majority of the pieces from their debut release. With his epic pieces and large ensemble of seven, Dick showed that he is not just a drummer with substantial talent, but a solid band leader and an interesting composer.

Dick is a sensitive, adept, dynamic drummer and has a tendency to pick up the brushes in almost every tune to deliver a series of single and double strokes that can be precise or transcend the pulse of the group. It is easy to hear the influence of stellar modern drummers such as Mark Guiliana, Ferenc Nemeth and Kendrick Scott in his playing. In the free improvisation section of his pieces, he also channels the vibe of the legendary ECM artist Jon Christensen with cymbal flashes and great independence. The only drawback on this night was that Dick seems to have an on/off switch to his additions to the ensemble. When on, he fills the space with beautiful passages and subtle polyrhythms. When off, he is not playing at all. One does yearn for that middle place where space is transferred.

The repertoire was varied and really took flight in the second set, culminating in ‘Annamarrakcch’ – a climax of emotion and splashing modern jazz rhythms. Many of the pieces from the performance could be seen from an ingredient point of view: free Wayne- or Miles-like intro (ala E.S.P.), several feel or time changes, a couple of short solos in the band (only one drum solo all night!), mainly use of melodic harmonies, a fast 12/8 groove and a faded ending of some sort. It may seem like a formula, but Dick weaves these elements intricately and expertly into each of his pieces.

Laura Jurd, the impressive trumpet player who will be back to play the Cambridge Jazz Festival this November with her band Dinosaur, was a true standout in this band. Impossibly underused, Jurd played every note, every run and her few pithy solos with conviction, power and a presence that took over the room. Her new release, Together, As One, is out this month and has been much anticipated in the jazz community.

Overall, this performance was a terrific display of enjoyable contemporary music and top musicianship. Dick is a drummer with much potential and will surely continue to make great waves throughout the UK music world for years to come. In combination with the fantastic Hidden Rooms venue, this was a memorable evening.

Corrie Dick’s Impossible Things are on tour all month throughout the UK. See www.corriedick.com for more details and tickets.

To check out the full Cambridge Modern Jazz Club’s schedule, please see www.cambridgejazz.org