Submitted by Hywel Davies
The ideal location to unwind, the Infinitea T-Bar & Boutique once again hosted a night of good food, good wine and relaxing music provided by New Zealand’s own Ben Wilkinson.
Blending a combination of jazz with folk, the multi instrumentalist’s mellow vibe soothed the tensions of what has been a challenging winter season. Playing both his own original compositions and jazzing up various covers such as Ella Fitzgerald’s “Summer Time,” Wilkinson’s style and careful musical arrangement suited the relaxed evening setting. His presence and small chit chat with the audience was enough to keep everyone engaged, even going as far as to play a quick round of name that tune, a Fernie pastime that never fails to please.
Mixing things up a little, Wilkinson let singer-songwriter Torri Anderson take to the stage. A talented musician harnessing a unique voice, Anderson was a great addition to the line-up that evening. Her sublime style of singing was truly something different. Like an old recording, the sounds coming from Anderson were remarkable. However, it wasn’t until a duet between her and Wilkinson that her true colours surfaced. A surge of confidence rose out of her that had been hidden away. Clearly, Wilkinson and Anderson are musically close and bring out the best in each other.
By the time Wilkinson had returned to the stage, the audience had doubled its size. Promising to lead the set in a more upbeat direction, it unfortunately failed to meet its mark. Talented as Wilkinson is, it became harder to distinguish one song from the other. Being too comfortable in his own style, it didn’t leave much room for experimentation and lacked the variety to hold the attention of the crowd. However, not expecting any pyrotechnics or stage dives, a little sparkle didn’t go amiss.
Overall, Wilkinson certainly is a great talent that deserves the respect of the musical community, there’s no doubt about it. For fans of Paulo Nutini and Mumford & Sons, Wilkinson is a must see.