There was more than a chill in the air last Friday night, but Arctic-like conditions or not, it was time to head across the river to the Beetle Bar. A small but appreciative crowd was mingling inside as the cool, refined jazz sounds of Stormy Weather — fronted by Ladi Abdundance — were sprinkled about the Brisbane venue like fairy dust clouds; it certainly felt like time for a martini by set’s end.

Blunted Stylus then treated the dancefloor to an inspired mix of rare groove and soul 45s that had more than a couple pairs of feet roaming the room. It was great to see Blunted behind the decks, the former Resin Dog still able to bring the party and educate at the same time. Running  a little behind time didn’t dampen the mood of those punters waiting for Kerbside Collection.

Jason Bell and his ensemble had my ears dancing from the moment the first strains of their cooler than cool brand of west coast funk jazz began emanating from the speakers. Mixing up bass players throughout the set, Kerbside Collection had the rafters rattling with a collection of warm, analougue fuelled instrumental numbers that often veered off into what seemed like crazed jams, but always returned to the structured neatness of jazz noodlings. This was a band with a sound somehow straddling the laws of time, with one foot entrenched in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the other running wild across the decades to bring the past into the present. Rain, hail or shine, next time Kerbside Collection play, you’d offend the funk gods if you fail to show up.

Photos: Lachlan Douglas

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