Though St Jerome’s Laneway Festival may have overrun the Perth Cultural Centre that day, in one tent atop a Northbridge car park, the night belonged to jazz.

Jazz Juncture is the debut of Siahne Rogers as a writer and director, though she is no stranger to the Fringe scene, regularly appearing in burlesque acts under the name Vivian Marlowe
A classic variety show, presenting the sheer range of what Fringe World has to offer on an attractive jazz-themed platter, Jazz Juncture never quite launches itself beyond the appetizers stage.

The performances are structured around scenes in a town built on jazz, but unfortunately this conceit is not given enough depth to successfully hold together their narratives, leaving them seeming disconnected and haphazard. It gives the show a sense of being almost unfinished, as the attempt to link the acts ultimately doesn’t lead anywhere. .

That is not to suggest the individual performances themselves are in any way wanting, with the acrobatic contortionist and the magic act clear crowd favourites, eliciting the strongest applauses and laughs respectively. One or two of the vignettes involving newspaper were inexplicable, though perhaps if the framing device had been fleshed out more, their purpose would have been apparent.

The accompanying jazz band in particular has to be complimented; creating exactly the right kind of smoky and sultry edge you’d expect a town built on jazz to have. The sounds of a teeming Northbridge threatened on occasion to drown them out, but the band persevered.

For a first work, Jazz Juncture is commendable. Rogers has a strong understanding of presentation, atmosphere and the elements audiences want in a Fringe World show. It will certainly be interesting to see what she does next.

Jazz Juncture runs until February 13 at The Pink Flamingo and is part of Fringe World 2013. Tickets are available from fringeworld.com.au.