On September 24, VUSAC hosted their first concert for a series called “Cat’s Eye Concerts” and was able to score a very special artist—Jazz Cartier. In April, he released his debut album Marauding in Paradise and was longlisted for a 2015 Polaris Music Prize. Born in Toronto, Jazz has been working very hard on writing distinctive music and has received a lot of praise for his work. Currently in the middle of touring, Jazz Cartier continues to surprise audiences and put on electrifying shows. The concert also opened with two of UofT’s artists, Sean Kudryk and Aery, who showcased their original music. With only 100 tickets available, the show received a lot of hype and sold out very quickly.
Like the title of his first track ever released, Jazz Cartier definitely “set fire” to the stage. This might explain why he was constantly catapulting water towards the crowd—to extinguish the fire he summoned and cool down the audience. Yes, Jazz Cartier did indeed throw water at the crowd; not just once, but continuously. Some would say that it was an incredibly irritating and unnecessary routine, but others would say that it enlivened the show and connected the audience to Jacuzzi La Fleur. Regardless, the water throwing was certainly an interesting and atypical concert experience that no one but Jazz Cartier could pull off. His energy and vigor built up the enthusiasm of the crowd, as exemplified by the rowdy cheering and explosive shouts for “Jacuzzi” heard throughout the night.
Performing tracks off his new album, Marauding in Paradise, such as “New Religion”, “Switch”, “Feel Something”, “The Valley”, “The Downtown Cliché”, and others, Jazz Cartier continued to keep audience engaged with his hypnotic, hard-hitting beats. Though the album contains heavy and intense hip-hop trap tracks, it also has a mix of mellow tracks, which he performed as well. Marauding in Paradise is an eclectic album, influenced by sounds all over the world, since Jazz Cartier was constantly traveling. Jazz brings an inexplicable atmosphere to the stage—it feels like you are just listening to any other hip hop artist, but there is also something completely different and new. He gives off a familiar but fresh vibe, which is what makes him so unique.
Interacting with audience members is important for live performances and Jazz did not disappoint. When he performed “Holy Shit,” he made sure to keep the crowd involved. Lifting his left arm up, he instructed the crowd to chant “holy shit” whenever he raised that arm. As well, with his right arm in the air, he instructed the crowd to chant “woo” whenever he raised his right arm. The enthusiastic audience spiritedly yelled these words as he rapped and danced.
Towards the end, he gave the audience exactly what they wanted—Jazz Cartier himself. He grabbed a table nearby, climbed up, hung from the ceiling, and began to crowd surf. Everyone went wild as he sailed through the crowd and continued to rap intensely. Talk about putting on a fiery show! If you were unable to attend this intoxicating performance, you definitely missed out. But don’t fret—as a Toronto based artist, he will definitely be back. In which case, you have no excuse for missing his next show.
