Jazz Sabbath return to the Band On The Wall after a great show around this time last year. What initially seemed like a novelty (jazz versions of Black Sabbath tunes) has stretched out into three full albums and placings on the Billboard jazz chart. After a short video introduction, the band open with the mournful 'Black Sabbath' which starts off quite faithfully and then goes a bit more freeform. 'The Wizard' is light and delightfully playful, and the double bassist Jerry gets his chance to shine in the middle section with some dexterous playing. 'War Pigs' (hilariously introduced as 'Raw Pigs' as a warning about eating uncooked meat) is exquisite. Not everything is easily recognisable. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out what 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' was but it is captivating. The intro to 'Iron Man' is impossibly beautiful before disappearing into Duke Ellington style jazz, taking in Deep Purple's 'Black Night' and The Beatles' 'Eleanor Rigby' along the way. Everything is done knowingly, with a nod and a wink, and the whole crowd is in on the joke. 'Fairies Wear Boots' has an incredible lightness of touch. Milton Keanes (AKA Adam Wakeman) is an incredible piano player and the other two band members are no slouches either. 'Paranoid' (the full nine minute version as Milton introduces it) again starts off beautifully before transforming into a boozy barroom polka. Jerry's performance on 'Into The Void' is spectacular. Ash on the drums get his moment in the spotlight on the fantastic 'Rat Salad'. Most of the crowd in attendance are rock fans and his is a different style of drumming than most are accustomed to but everyone is impressed, including myself. Absolutely jaw-dropping.
Jazz Sabbath *****
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