Polar Bear are one of the many British jazz pies that Seb Rochford has a finger in and made a fine show in support.

Rochford’s contemporary jazz muse was complemented by the assiduous laptop manipulation of Leafcutter John and held together by his astonishing drumming. The Dirty Projectors are clearly not a jazz band, but it is difficult to pin down many other genres that they don’t take a piece of.

Dave Longstreth’s voice moves from blue-eyed soul croon to something almost choked, begat by skittering, menacing guitar and an astonishing vocal interplay by Amber Coffman, Haley Dekle and Angel Deradoorian.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, with thrashing noise challenging the lithe interplay of afrobeat-influenced melody and one the most complete absorptions of modern soul, r 'n' b and hip-hop mores that you'll find in any alternative/indie outfit.

Richard Davie
photo: Rachel Lipsitz