At the beautiful, sun-filled setting of St Catherine’s Church, on the evening of Saturday 18th July, I was fortunate enough to catch the debut Ventnor Fringe show of Jay River, a young musician and composer from the Island. Playing a thoughtfully curated selection of songs from across Nick Drake’s three albums and wider discography, the evening served as both an illustration of the timelessness and everlasting importance of Drake’s music and a showcase of Jay as an incredibly talented musician.
With each song having been adapted and arranged by Jay himself for piano and vocals, it was striking to see and hear how natural the songs suited the performer. It was remarkable to hear how alike Jay sounded to Drake; he captured his distinct, soulful way of singing so well. This was especially prevalent in songs such as ‘Hazey Jane II’, taken from Bryter Layter, and a song that remains eternally joyful and uplifting.
Early on in the set we were treated to ‘At the Chime of a City Clock’, also from Bryter Layter. Despite the song usually being accompanied by saxophone and strings, Jay’s version was not at all lacking in being purely piano and vocals. Singing with such clarity and playing so exceptionally, the performer perfectly shone a light on Drake’s talent as a songwriter. The same can also be said of ‘One Of These Things First’ and ‘Poor Boy’. Such songs proved just how much Jay had been able to capture all sides of Drake’s sound and temperament, from the gentler and more melancholic songs to the livelier and more soulful ones.
Jay’s talent as a musician was especially prevalent during ‘Saw You on a Starship’ – a song left unfinished by Drake. Here Jay had composed and arranged the music to accompany Drake’s lyrics, drawing inspiration from both his own style and Drake’s. It was so striking to see how Jay had approached a song with no pre-existing recording and in such a confident, thoughtful and complex manner put forward his own interpretation. It was a standout moment of the set, and I hope to hear it again one day.
I was struck by how calm, confident and at ease Jay seemed throughout the performance, coming across as a thoughtful, gentle and passionate individual. His evident love for Drake’s music resonated immensely. This was added to by Jay’s warm and personal remarks between songs, sharing fascinating anecdotes and reflections. A highlight of the evening for me was Jay’s performance of ‘Fruit Tree’, taken from Drake’s debut album Five Leaves Left. Jay spoke of how the song acted as a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy for Drake; its lyrics reflect the idea that fame and recognition come only with time, and sometimes only after tragedy.
As an artist who passed far too soon, it was a joy to hear the music of Nick Drake played with such care and genuine warmth. Through tributes such as this, Drake’s legacy lives on, and Jay’s performance revealed the timelessness of the music in continuing to inspire, give hope and offer peace and respite for those who listen. It was also incredibly inspiring to see someone so young playing and speaking so thoughtfully about an artist who evidently means so much to them. To hear such beautiful songs performed in such a thoughtful and expressive manner was a joy, and overall complemented the summer evening on which it happened so perfectly. I am certain that all who saw Jay perform were both incredibly moved and impressed. I look forward to catching more of his shows in the future.
Review written by Pip Johnson.
