Against the backdrop of the breathtaking Toronto skyline, the genre bending jazz-fusion trio re.verse performed for a lively crowd at Harriet’s Rooftop last Wednesday evening. Their three-hour performance complimented the upscale casual nature of Harriet’s Rooftop bar at the One Hotel perfectly. The group performed a mix of original, impromptu compositions and covers that fused soulful jazz with an eclectic mix of other genres. The quality of the music was fitting for a bar that serves twenty-dollar cocktails.
As the trio basked in the sunlight dancing off the neighboring apartment buildings, they began with some upbeat smooth jazz. Their lead guitarist Rob Cappelletto led the way with warm, bubbly riffs that drifted off into the sunset. Rather than playing individual pieces, the group played a continuous, free-form style with two brief breaks throughout the evening.
Right off the bat, the versatility of their sound was impressive. Their original compositions sound like they could be sampled for just about anything, from a James Blake R&B ballad to a Calvin Harris EDM summer anthem.
After their first break, the group shifted to a fusion of fast-paced guitar triplets and up tempo break beats. Their increase in volume and tempo was perfectly timed, as the energy of their performance picked up right along with the energy of the venue. The beat was similar to the first half of their track “Resonate” on Beat Tape 1.
After a few minutes of break beats, the group seamlessly transitioned into some funky Latin rhythms. It was hard to tell because of how smoothly the changes blended, but it seemed like they were mixing in some elements of samba and classic funk beats under their guitar riffs.
Cappalletto and their bassist, Diomo, stayed consistently jazzy, so most of the genre shifts came from the change in beats from drummer Chino de Villa. The change in rhythm along with the sporadic use of a woodblock was indicative of their shift to an Afro-Cuban sound, similar to “Ducky Bastard”
Next, the group shifted to a unique, techno-influenced jazz. As the stars emerged from above the sunset, the bassist hopped onto a synth that gave the impression of an interstellar voyage.
Diomo played soothing chords and meandering, angelic arpeggios that made it feel like re.verse was taking the audience on a trip through the constellations.
After their second intermission, Diomo started off their finale with a killer bass solo. The group picked up where they left off, shifting from techno jazz into an old school funk beat. The mix sounded like a 70’s disco hit.
To conclude the evening, the group played a series of fresh takes on iconic R&B and Hip-hop hits. The track list included classics like A Tribe Called Quest’s “We’ve Got the Jazz,” Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ Bout You,” “Runnin” by The Pharcyde, J-Cole’s “Forbidden Fruit,” and “The Weekend” by SZA just to name a few. The audience loved this part of the show and so did I. Even though they were playing covers, the style they were playing them in brought an exciting new energy to these established, genre-defining tracks.
Their style is incredibly versatile, but they didn’t show off their full spectrum of genre-blending capabilities during this performance. The group didn’t delve into genres like house, trap, and punk despite doing so in their discography. Probably a good call for the venue.
Perhaps if they were playing at a more traditional jazz venue rather than a rooftop bar, they could have been more experimental. Regardless, the sounds they did experiment with were compelling and kept the audience engaged.
Their latest album, Beat Tape 1, is available on Apple Music, Spotify and others. If you’re interested in checking out re.verse live, they perform every Wednesday until October at Harriet’s Rooftop and every Thursday at the historic jazz venue, Mrs. Robinson.
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