Richard Hollingum finds that less is more at the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building in Oxford

Jazz in concert always treads that fine line between pretentiousness and modesty, and in such a setting is in great danger of veering to the former. The concert last Friday evening at the Jacqueline du Pr Music Building featured two bands, the jh4 and the Luis d'Agostino trio, and neither fell from this path.

I first heard Luis playing the previous Friday at Borders bookshop. His set featured a couple of well-known tunes and some by Luis Borda, a composer and fellow guitarist also from Argentina. A player of great range, he jumped easily from seducing sweet lyrical notes out of his guitar for El Beso to exuberant tones for Anthropology and Kansas City Blues. Playing with Luis were Steve Kershaw on double bass and Mark Doffman on drums.

The second act jh4, (jh being John Hoare on flugelhorn) had organised the evening to launch their new CD entitled less is more. This was also the name of the central piece of the performance. It was written to a commission from artist Richard Long, whose work includes long-distance walks that involve stopping every mile to place a stone, and creating circles made of various materials. The suite reflects this art; the first piece, Walking, is led by the walking double bass of Steve Kershaw; the second, Spiral Ballad, features John Hoare and pianist Michael Young; finally, The Earth revisits the theme of Walking but is soon diverted into a solo by drummer Charlie Stratford, before returning to ensemble playing. As a whole, the piece works well and allows the band to perform beyond the standard rhythm section/lead instrument structure.

This centrepiece was surrounded by other original work all with titles guaranteed to raise a smile, such as Oxford United Social Club and Serpent Pantalon. The humour continued into the encore with a James Bond medley. The CD, less is more, is now on release on Flat 5 Records.