Photos and review by: Jason Robey

CHARLOTTE, NC — Hot on the heels of the release of her new album Measured In Moments earlier this month, Natalie Brooke and her band brought their high-energy show to The Rabbit Hole. Local jazz trio OOF! opened the night with an instrumental set filled with intricate compositions scattered with some recognizable melodies. The group brought a breezy vibe with punchy melodies for their 45 minute set, with particularly ear-grabbing moments like their version of “Christmas Time Is Here.”

Natalie Brooke’s set was a mesmerizing two-hour, genre-blending journey, kicking off with a 10-minute instrumental that alluded to what the evening had in store. The group followed the extended opening heater up with a succinct run through of the lead single from the new album, “Hands,” with its earworm-worthy chorus and soul-tinted instrumental sections. The Four piece band operated as an impressive team, each member driving the jams at different points, always keeping it moving without ever stepping on each other. 

Brooke’s magnetic stage presence added to the sonically captivating experience, playing multiple keyboards and switching to a keytar for a brilliiant cover pairing of Steely Dan’s “Golden Earrings” with a seamless transition into Billy Cobham’s jazz tune “Testing Service.” The ensuing jam had masterful peaks and valleys, with a mesmerizing rhythm breakdown featuring bassist Jacob Nadeau and drummer Nathan Shulkin. Nadeau would later take the vocal reins for an exploratory take on Pink Floyd’s “Money” that stretched to ten minutes, giving guitarist Luke Walker time to shine with impressive fretboard dancing. 

Fans were especially taken with the familiar instrumental hook of the original “Noodles 2.0,” which has become something of a signature tune in the band’s repertoire with its catchy groove laying a perfect musical bed for improvisation. As the set began winding down, the group closed with a pair of originals, each clocking in at ten minutes. “Sometimes,” from Measured In Moments, blended soul and jazz with sultry vocals and a groove-heavy drum and bass breakdown, also marking another appearance of the keytar. They finally closed out with “Sexy Mofo,” a long-time fan favorite that gave the group one last chance to take the room into another dimension before calling it a night and leaving the audience calling for more. Check Natalie Brooke’s social media for tour dates.