Terrarium invigorate FILO
HARRY HAWKINS
Jo Stout leads his sextet Terrarium through nine songs that span funk, fusion, bebop and music of Africa. The group comprises Jo on alto sax, Rob Leake on tenor and bass clarinet, Tony Shepherd on drums and percussion, Tom Remon on guitar, Terry Pack on upright bass, and Tom Millar on the keys. One of FILO’s regular Sunday jazz sessions, the gig was packed with punters and jazzers alike.
Jo Stout leads Terrarium
In this format, the rhythm section has a lot of work to do to set the style and pace of each piece, and they surely deliver. Terry is one of the most joyous bass players I have seen perform. His flowing, melodic basswork grounds the many directions the band venture to take. Meanwhile, drummer Shepherd can effortlessly switch, mid-song, from floating cymbal work to heavily grooving, funkier beats, and on the band’s eponymous first tune, he evokes frenetic Amen breaks.
All of the tunes Terrarium play this night are written by bandleader Jo with two exceptions: the tune Yellow Hill by Loose Tubes (Django Bates’ big band from the 80s which launched the careers of so many British jazz household names), and a re-arrangement of Paul Simon’s Under African Skies. Terrarium’s rendition of the Paul Simon tune allows the melody to emerge from a crosshatching saxophone/guitar introduction, and the invigorated use of rim clicks and shekere by Tony give a lot of lift. Yellow Hill is a beautiful piece that shows the agility and playfulness of Terrarium, with overlapping chitchat between Rob and Jo.
The height of the band’s powers was the original tune Revival, with a rousing syncopated sax line that evokes the afrofuturistic sound of modern groups like Sons of Kemet. Under this Millar and Pack lay a heavy, moody harmony on Rhodes keys and bowed bass, which circles hypnotically, growing in intensity.
The darker colours of Millar’s Rhodes provide a great contrast to the reeds and guitar, so it is a joy to hear them collide with bass clarinet on Report Back, which has a strong 70s fusion feel and a ripping Chick Corea-style solo from Tom. There are yet more flavours of song when a penny whistle is brought about for a rendition of the Irish traditional tune Little Fair Cannavans, bolstered by full band and whirled about into a jazz-jig.
The breadth and adventurous nature of the band is something to be seen and heard. I hope they make many more appearances around our local area.
Terrarium played at First In Last Out, High Street, on 9 November. They are due to play Brighton’s Love Supreme festival in Glynde Place, in 2026.
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