Liam Shortall, known as corto.alto, is a Glasgow-based composer and multi-instrumentalist who is quickly but steadily rising to fame with his take on blending jazz with electronics, hip-hop, soul and funk. This year, he took the Stockholm stage with support of Terra Kin, an intimate folk guitar soloist.
Jazz rave? Yes, sir, it’s possible. In fact, it can actually be good.
In short, corto.alto creates a high-intensity music experience, best enjoyed by closing your eyes and letting your body react. Palpable vibrations surround you with waves of intentional bass sound. By blending beat-first hip hop, Eastern and Afro motifs with jazz interludes, the artist takes you on a sensory trip.
Special kudos for the venue – Slaktkyrkan’s grungy, rundown vibe is a perfect match. It’s one of those cases when, if you cannot see yourself in a graffiti-covered loo with scratched lamps, Shortall’s music might not be for you.
corto.alto headlining Friday’s lineup is an example of a jazz festival embracing not only acts that fit neatly within the jazz canon but also those that expand our understanding of what jazz can be and what music can become.
The crowd was, roughly speaking, split into two groups: those who dived in and aimed for a transcendental experience and the slightly perplexed, possibly amazed nodders.
If you are interested in exploring how far deep listening can actually go, you will enjoy corto.alto’s modern take on musical experimentation.
Liam Shortall preaches a clear artistic narrative and looks very organic in it. This is exactly what you would expect from an up-and-coming musician who has a vision. His confidence is precisely what makes the whole performance work.
The final result is jazz fusion but with less pretentiousness and more individuality. This is multifaceted, layered and unpolished work with an underground twist.
