Night Moves -

Jazz Night at The Butterfly and the Pig

Those of you with good taste in films will have seen Whiplash. It follows the relationship between a young jazz drummer and his sadistic teacher, whose somewhat questionable methods include slapping his students to the beat, throwing instruments at their heads, and unleashing terrifying volleys of verbal abuse if they play out of tune. It is, unquestionably, one of the best films of the last few years, and it carries considerably more drama and tension than a film about jazz drumming really ought to.

The great thing about Whiplash is that turns the idea of jazz being something spontaneous and utterly free-flowing on its head. We’re used to thinking of the genre as improvised and off-the-cuff, but JK Simmons’ band leader does not hesitate to berate his charges for playing a demisemihemidemisemiquaver out of time. For better or worse, this is not at all what jazz night at Bath Street’s The Butterfly and Pig is like.

Actually, it’s one hundred percent for the better. The Animus Quartet jam that we witnessed was a virtuoso improv performance, with the band’s leader Ben Macdonald and sax man Adam Jackson particularly impressive. The bar’s musical offering has always been strong, with live rock and roll, soul and blues a constant at both its Bath Street and Shawlands locations. Tuesday and Sunday nights are given over to open mic and comedy respectively, keeping the focus on undiscovered talent. And when the fun’s done you can jump upstairs to The Buff – still one of the best clubs in the town and still going strong after all these years – or The Shed. Which, let’s face it, isn’t the ideal way to end a night, but it beats going home. Just.

Jazz Night at The Butterfly and the Pig

Q: Who’s your favourite jazz musician?

1. Conor Murray, 19, City Centre, John Coltrane

Emma Pantel, 21, West End, Ella Fitzgerald

2. Pete Johnston, 25, Anniesland, Aaron Goldberg

Ben Macdonald, 31, West End, Pat Martinio

3. Tom Stephenson, 21, East End, West Montgomery

Fergus McCreadie, 18, Gorbals, Pat Metheny

Sam Beagles, 21, City Centre, Ornette Coleman

4. Violet Patrich, 21, City Centre, Miles David

Kate Morgan, 21, South Side, Dave Brubeck

5. Adrienne Edmonds, 22, City Centre

Favourite Club? Nice N Sleazy

Favourite Bar? Stereo

Favourite DJ? I don’t have one

Favourite Band? Ngozi Family

First Club? Nice N Sleazy

What You Drinking? Gin and Tonic

Describe Your Dancing? Tight and choreographed

6. Joshua Elcock, 20, City Centre, Lee Morgan

Dan Brown, 20, City Centre, Bill Evans

7. Joe Robson, 25, West End, Pat Metheny

David Bowden, 24, City Centre, Dexter Gordon