MIRRORS

Jan Kopinski's Reflektor @ The Sage. June 6th

Jan Kopinski (tenor & alto saxophones), Steve Iliffe (piano), Stefan Kopinski (electric bass), Patrick Illingworth (drums), Janina Kopinska (viola), Aniko Toth (voice) & Jim Boxall (video artist)

Jan Kopinski has visited Tyneside on several occasions over the years - notably with Pinski Zoo - and his appearance at The Sage was, perhaps, his most ambitious project to date.
Originally commissioned by Opera North, Mirrors is Kopinski's multi media exploration of his Polish roots. Archive video footage of visits to Poland formed a backdrop to the evening's performance in a poorly attended Hall Two.
Kopinski described the work as a waking dream. The sounds were impressionistic with a European art house feel and those hoping to hear jazz would, for the most part, have left disappointed. Images of town and country, religious iconography and, curiously, few people, were accompanied by song titles such as Mirrors, Folk House, Girl in a Field and Cornfield. Aniko Toth's voice was like crystal, viola player Janina Kopinska displayed true virtuosity and bass and drums held it all together (kit man Illingworth was last at The Sage during this year's jazz festival with AKA Orchestra - a real talent, comfortable in any setting).

Russell