THURSDAY 3 | From the modern electronic underlay to the acoustic groove on top, these three lovely lads have got range. And they specialise in turning the esoteric into the easy – but with an edge. The Benny Lackner Trio are Parisian Matthieu Chazarenc (drums); Jerome Regard from Lyon (bass) and Berliner-turned-New-Yorker Benny Lackner (piano and electronics). Theirs is a traditional jazz sound, but with a soulful – even unsettling – Euro ambience that gives it that je ne sais quoi zeitgeist. “This trio is the love of my life,” gushes the front man. “I would do anything for these guys. We play with a lot of passion.” Awww, feel that bromance. Describing their melodic brand as “accessible, not chaotic,” the outfit adapts and covers an eclectic mix of artists such as Schubert, David Bowie, Jimmy Hendrix and Bjørk as well as performing their own compositions. Their music may not be demanding, but their schedule is as rock ‘n’ roll as it gets. Lackner reels off a list of upcoming venues: Hong Kong, Bali, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and Brisbane as well as Phnom Penh on October 3. “We are playing two sets of new arrangements, including all-new material,” he says. “Eight concerts in eight cities in eight days in four countries… 12 airplanes. Sleep when you’re dead!” No worries: they’ll play Phnom Penh well before then. Super.
WHO: The Benny Lackner Trio
WHAT: Jazz; no avant garde stuff, just jazz.
WHERE: Meta House, #37 Sothearos Blvd.
WHEN: 8pm October 3
WHY: Chillax to the smooth groove. Nice!