On that Tuesday like no other, one literally, completely comprised of “twos”, I felt the need to mix it up. I perused the internet for some local shows that night, and I found that the Blue Llama Jazz club was hosting Westbound Situation, a band that creates a fusion of classical, jazz, and bluegrass music. On a normal day I wouldn’t necessarily choose a show like this. I’m normally drawn towards the indie-rock, alternative, grungier shows. But today was special and I wanted to try something new.
I made a reservation to sit close to the stage. My table was beneath a ceiling of twinkling lights resembling stars, and a small candle beside my wine glass. This venue pays attention to little details like these that make the atmosphere incredibly inviting, warm, and intimate.
When the four band mates walked up to the stage, they introduced themselves as individuals and as a whole before getting into their first set. I don’t know what I was expecting, considering I couldn’t even imagine the combination of three genres I was so unfamiliar with. Yet I was pleasantly surprised by their ability to find a way to use four string instruments to create such beautiful, complex auditory scenes within each song.
Westbound Situation paints a picture through music.The violin is played in such a fashion that it mimics a longing singing voice. The bass player is extremely expressive, leaning into every note he plays. The cello player is always extremely concentrated, in the zone, paying very close attention to his finger movements. The guitar player, seemingly in a completely different universe, letting this music take him away. This, of course, doesn’t affect his playing one bit. He never missed a note.
Despite the precision of their music, it was clear that the band had fun with the score, and each other. By taking brief breaks in between songs, they explained some of the stories behind a few of their songs. A couple of them were named after some inside jokes, which they explained to the audience, allowing us to feel included in their camaraderie, which in turn broke some of the pressure that had built in such a formal atmosphere.
Westbound Situation gave an incredible performance. Their songs invited the audience to join them on a journey that had a distinct beginning, middle, and end. There were unexpected twists and turns that didn’t stray too far off of the path by sticking to a melody, which was present to keep the songs cohesive, yet still interesting. For somebody that doesn’t listen to much jazz, this made their music extremely accessible.
At the same time, the clear connection to the styles of bluegrass and classical music through the occasional twang and plucking of the strings within each instrument, and the smooth, graceful nature that tied the melodies together.
If I ever happen to be in the same city as Westbound Situation again, I will go out of my way to be able to experience something that’s even a fraction of what this performance gave me. And you should too.
