“IT’S a bit of a ‘we are unworthy’ moment for me,” explains Toolshed’s maverick instigator Graham Massey about his group’s show supporting Joe Zawinul at The Bridgewater Hall. Truth be told, he’s a little gobsmacked that we chose to mention his outfit over his idol’s.
“Zawinul has had a massive effect on everything I’ve ever done - from 808 State stuff through to what we’re doing with Toolshed now.
"And he pretty much turned the synthesizer from being a machine that made background noises into an instrument.”
Joe Zawinul is a legend within jazz and fusion circles, having been heavily involved with classic music by artists and groups as diverse as Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley. Oh and he co-formed Weather Report.
But Massey needn’t be too overawed - Toolshed are a pretty fierce and exciting musical proposition in their own right.
A recent show with Badly Drawn Boy, also at The Bridgewater Hall, saw audiences equally delighted and freaked out by Toolshed’s display of big band sonics.
But hey, that’s the price of experimentation. In the words of The Inspiral Carpets: ‘No one ever said it was going to be easy.’
The album forthcoming on Twisted Nerve is an incredible beast, blending Massey’s love of jazz, progressive rock and electronics.
It’s furious stuff, both dense and melodic, and sets to reassert the artist in the public eye as the innovator he really is.
More than anything, Friday’s audience should be looking forward to the challenge.
Joe Zawinul and Toolshed perform at the Bridgewater Hall on Friday, April 30. Tickets are £16-£19.50 - to book, call 0161 907 9000 or visit the venue's website below.
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