Charlie Wood Trio, Bennigan's Bar, L'Derry

You probably remember the film Charlie Wilson's War. Well, at Bennigan's Bar one Saturday evening during this year's City Of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival, it feels like Charlie Wood's War – in a way. For, despite an immensely positive reception from another packed lounge in the popular Derry bar, the jazz maestro from Memphis faces a musical battle. How will he and his latest trio – featuring double bassist Neil O'Loughlin and drummer Mike Clowes – handle their first live performance together? And will the sound in the venue be as kind to him as it ought to be?

The answers are: very well, and mostly.

What's noticeable from the off is how Wood's easily heard piano doesn't take over from or upstage his voice, but successfully accompanies it. When performing the first five songs, he, O'Loughlin and Clowes synchronise very well indeed, a positive ripple effect emanating from the keys as the percussion and strings add both current and thrust to a steady opening stream of tunes. It's a collective kind of crooning, with stand out moments for Wood, O'Loughlin and Clowes in a generally genial atmosphere, fitting for Wood's soothing, humane soul.

Wood, an acclaimed musician specialising in not only jazz but also blues, traditional R & B and popular music, is comfortable in surroundings that effectively relay the emotions in the voice and the multiple depths in the instruments. Unfortunately, not everything comes through clearly – the singular wit in his lyrics ("Such impressive pedigrees, coordinating refugees, who needs foes with friends like these...") is not always heard through the bar's speakers on this occasion. Which is a shame, but it detracts little from the overall tone and feel of the performance.

The set is full of "all rounders", in other words, songs that show off every single one of Wood's skills across a tuneful spectrum free of syrupy balladry and musical theatre. This is a man who's clearly not afraid to act like Marty McFly circa Johnny B Goode on the piano if the occasion calls for it – except here, his fellow musicians are able to keep up with him the whole way through. It's a positive example of the welcome bursts of excitement that pleasingly punctuate the overall broodiness.

There are moments where Wood appears to be in a state of drifty delirium at his keys, becoming visually energised only when Clowes' impressive drum solos spark him into life. But this is simply his way of grabbing and retaining our attention through switches in mood, tempo and expression. Wood really does seem to be at one with both his piano and his previously unfamiliar band mates – his musical and spatial awareness beside the instruments and around them is really something to admire.

Interestingly, the highlight of the entire performance is a song about nothing at all! Or so Wood says. Billy Preston's 1970s classic Will It Go Round In Circles literally goes round in circles here – to great effect. When Wood begins to sing again after a turbulent, terrific piano solo, the loud applause is warranted.

It's not all successful – when channelling Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, Wood and the band feel a little over the place in a song that doesn't quite sound in keeping with the best that this set has to offer. No matter – the Route 66-esque finale is well worth waiting for. And by that stage, there is little one can do, indeed, little one wants to do, but surrender to the groove and beat of a likable and accomplished artist like Charlie Wood.


Simon Fallaha

The Charlie Wood Trio performed at the City Of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival.