Published: November 18, 2024, at 23:53Last updated: November 19, 2024, at 01:05
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CONCERT
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30-year-old Englishman Jacob Collier is one of the world’s musical marvels. The evening begins with his great specialty, getting people in large venues to sing harmoniously together, almost spontaneously. But just for a brief moment, like a teaser of what is to come later. He sits down at the piano and starts the song titled “100,000 Voices.” Then he picks up a guitar and sings “Wellll,” joined by his band. So far, there isn’t much distinguishing this from an ordinary arena concert with a bit too much sound, from any superstar. But more is to come.
Jacob Collier is a genius – one of those guys who not only plays well but seemingly can do whatever he wants with tones and rhythms. He became a star on the internet after he started posting videos of himself in 2012, where he sang and played everything himself in a split grid, covering Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing,” and the theme from the TV series “The Flintstones.” Perhaps it was his equivalent twist on Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” that caught the attention of producer legend Quincy Jones, who took Collier to the Montreux Jazz Festival and from there into the wider world.
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Jacob Collier and Norway
Collier developed a good relationship with Norway: He was only 17 when he met Stian Carstensen after a lecture at a music conservatory in London. In 2015, he participated in Stian Carstensen’s “Christmas Jazz” in Eidsvoll. They have kept in touch and played together as recently as this summer in Molde. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hear more of their collaboration in Oslo Spektrum. But we heard plenty of other things.
Most of the songs in the concert come from the album “Djesse vol. 4” (a phonetic representation of the initials “JC”). This album has just been nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, competing against Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Charlie XIX, Beyoncé, and the new rising stars Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. This is the company Collier is now competing with.
As much as he can do, it’s easy for Jacob Collier to fall into the show-off trap. With music that is so well-played and virtuosic, the charm can quickly fade as he tries to showcase how many instruments he can master. Fortunately, he possesses a winning personality that takes this concert far beyond the “look how skilled I am” genre.
After the bombastic start, he sings “Little Blue” alone with an acoustic guitar, at least until the audience chimes in on the chorus, and the whole band joins in. Collier is joined by three backup singers and multi-instrumentalists: Alita Moses, Erin Bentlage, and Lindsey Loomis. The latter also handled the opening act in Spektrum. The rest of the band consists of Robin Mullarkey (bass), Ben Jones (guitar), and Christian Euman (drums). All six of them get the chance to showcase their individual talents.
Downturn with Simon & Garfunkel song
“She Put Sunshine” shows that Jacob Collier has a good ear for pop music’s artistry, and ends with some lines from “There She Goes” by cult heroes The La’s. It doesn’t seem like many in the audience know it, as very few are old enough to remember a 35-year-old song.
In “Time Alone With You,” he picks up the bass guitar. His own logo over the stage conjures memories of Prince. But Collier probably isn’t quite that funky after all. The only downturn of the evening comes in a version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” where he stands behind his effect machine, showing everything he can achieve with electronic processing of the voice. With this, the song’s intimacy vanishes. I’m not timing it, but it feels like it lasts over ten minutes. However, the hall is completely silent while he’s at this, followed by full applause once again, so who am I to
The concert continues and continues with acrobatic singing and playing, sometimes right on the edge of excessively impressive, but mostly with playful expression and genuine joy of playing. A long drum duel between the main performer and the drummer kicks off the Latin lively “Mi Corazon.”
About halfway through, he stops for a speech about music’s place in world history, the importance of collaboration across all kinds of boundaries, engaged participation, and the mission of music. “It has never been more important to be human,” he believes. “Especially not after the last two weeks. Nothing is more important than listening to each other,” says Jacob Collier, before he performs “Never Gonna Be Alone.”
“How Deep is Your Love” is initially played as if Collier is the world’s best piano entertainer in a small bar. It’s good to hear that so many in the audience still know their Bee Gees, and thus the lovely song gradually transitions into the inevitable highlight: The large audience choir, where the singer conducts different sections of the assembly into great cascades of sound. That evening, these choirs receive a distinctive honor round, the very “Yes we love,” as we have never heard it before.
The concert heads towards the end with a series of party songs, creating a different type of atmosphere. But Jacob Collier returns for yet another one of his old hits: Queen’s “Somebody To Love.” “Can anybody find me somebody to love,” is asked in the song. It sounds like they all love him. Again, he sends the song back to his audience
for more harmonious humming throughout the city hall, before he gets the crowd to transition into bird chirps and other animal sounds. After well over two hours of all this, there was hardly anything more he could do.
– In what ways does music transcend cultural boundaries and bring people together?
E of connection, and how music transcends boundaries. This heartfelt moment resonates with the audience, highlighting Collier’s passion not just for performing, but for fostering a sense of community through music.
The concert eventually reaches its crescendo with an energetic medley that features elements of jazz, pop, and R&B, allowing each band member to shine and exhibit their skills. Jacob’s ability to seamlessly blend genres is a testament to his versatility and creativity as an artist.
As the show draws to a close, Collier invites the audience to join him in one final sing-along, reinforcing the communal spirit he champions throughout the performance. The night concludes with a standing ovation, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement and a profound appreciation for the musical journey they just experienced.
Jacob Collier’s concert at Oslo Spektrum showcases not just his remarkable talent but also his unique ability to connect with the audience, leaving a lasting impression that goes beyond mere performance.