Stewart Lee & Friends: Celebrating The Music Of Nick Pynn

Nick Pynn – the much-loved multi-instrumentalist, a Brighton institution and talent that makes the most complex of pieces look like simplicity itself – has worked with a lot of respected performers from the worlds of both music and comedy. One of those performers, Stewart Lee, had the brainwave to bring them all together in a celebration and appreciation of the unassuming talent that is Nick Pynn.

With the feel of a true appreciation of a friend, Stewart Lee opened the first half, while Boothby Graffoe closed it, neatly sandwiching original composition delivered and expertly looped by Pynn himself along with a performance from celebrated Lewes resident Arthur Brown. Both comics performed beautifully with Pynn (as well as delivering up some of their own straight comedy sets), whose talent at garnering others’ musical pieces as well as creating his own shone through.

The second half continued with the music and comedy, serving up the at times haunting delights of Kate Daisy Grant duetting with her husband – Pynn – and charming with her own array of instruments, with both of them looping strings, piano, bells and vocals with remarkable and uniquely charming results. Kevin Eldon was a comic sorbet between musical courses, refreshing and bright with a clever silliness that immediately charmed. Jane Bom Bane followed, sporting her famous hats – one for each of her two pieces – introducing a hammond organ, first love and more harmonies to the mix, captivating the Concert Hall as her head-piece rotated and energised to illustrate her physicist’s song. Remarkable.

The entire production came to a close around the final song of Incredible String Band Mike Heron’s short set, bringing together all of the performers (including Georgia Seddon) in what felt like the last song of a wedding. Such is the adoration of the talented Mr Pynn the few technical hiccups were indulged, and playfulness and generosity were the order of the night. A delight to witness.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 23 March 2014
Rating:
Victoria Nangle