TONY HILLIER on the latest concert in the Jazz Up North '08 series.

Contrary to what their name might suggest, there’s nothing remotely angry or indignant about Trio Apoplectic’s music or their attitude to live performance.

Indeed, the three young graduates from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, who comprise one of the country’s up-and-coming jazz combos, are positively perky.

That one of the tracks on their eponymous debut album is cheekily titled Details of How To Get Apoplectic On Your License Plate confirms the band’s sense of fun.

The trio’s style of jazz is playful in nature with more than a whiff of early Ornette Coleman as well as Thelonious Monk, two of the genre’s great innovators.

So what prompted them to call themselves Apoplectic?

"I could say that we try to create music that’s representational of all the dark corners of the spectrum of human emotion," says frontman Dave Jackson.

"But I would be lying," he quickly adds. "We just opened the dictionary and found a word we all liked."

"We" includes bassist Abel Cross and drummer Alex Masso, who provide the platform for saxophonist Jackson’s freewheeling alto lines.

The band’s style is a bit reminiscent of Australian alto legend Bernie McGann’s trio.

"I’m sure Bernie McGann and Ornette Coleman have both been important influences on my playing and the way that Apoplectic play as a group," admits Jackson.

"I’ve loved both artists since discovering them, but I listen to their music like I listen to bands like Radiohead – it’s just a very organic, impulsive, pleasing experience.

"As a group, the formative journey has been quite unique. The whole thing evolved so naturally.

"We would just get together to play while at uni. We had no particular ends in mind – we just played for the sake of playing and for the love of it.

"The band’s concept has been very malleable as a result, and perhaps been influenced by a wide range of music, musicians, experience and friendship."

The Trio’s repertoire currently consists of original compositions and standards, as well as free improvisation.

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