Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 16th June 2022
Veteran musician Rai Thistlethwayte joins forces with ARIA Award winning guitarist James Muller and talented, well-travelled drummer Ben Vanderwal. Their songs range from American classics to Thistlethwayte’s own works. There is no preamble or bloated stage personas as they walk onto stage and immediately start playing. Thistlethwayte looks unassuming as he sits at the Steinway piano in his t-shirt and jeans.
Thistlethwayte’s excitement and enjoyment of playing alongside Muller and Vanderwal is palpable. He has a kinetic energy and almost dances from his piano seat. The trio decide amongst themselves which song would be most fun to play next, with no concrete set list. They play beautifully together, ensuring that each musician has opportunities to shine and improvise multiple solos throughout the night, to great applause from the audience.
They perform Thistlethwayte’s originals like I Know Somebody, San Francisco Street, and Mousetrap Heart. These fit seamlessly alongside jazz juggernauts such as Skylark and Night and Day.
The show has the authenticity of a relaxed weekend jam session among friends with the quality instruments and sound support offered by the Adelaide Festival Centre. The relaxed atmosphere on stage may have better suited a more intimate venue, although the larger Dunstan Playhouse was perhaps necessary to accommodate the audience. Together the three musicians create a unique celebration of jazz, utilising Thistlethwayte’s original repertoire.
Reviewed by Nicola Woolford
One Night Only – Season Ended
Rating out of 5: 5
Photo Credit: Claudio Raschella