Record Reviews
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  | IAIN BALLAMY ~ PEPPER ST. INTERLUDES
FERAL 102 (Barcode: 766013010220) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000
This is another criminally little known album, this time by British Jazz saxophonist / composer Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, recorded with Norwegian button accordionist Stian CarstensenFind albums by this artist and British vocalist Diva Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist, cellist Matthew SharpFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist (on one track only). The album presents fourteen pieces, two of which (one of them repeated three times) are original compositions by Ballamy, one is by Carstensen, one is by the Jewish British composer Michael CarrFind albums by this artist (repeated twice) and the rest are mostly unique arrangements of Jazz standards.
The entire concept of the album is to present intimate duets of saxophone with accordion or with cello, and on two tracks featuring Winstone singing the lyrics of songs and adding vocalese on two others. The atmosphere is utterly enchanting and misty like the London fog. Ballamy´s playing is full of lyricism and heartbreaking melancholy, and the album is a great tribute to the Jazz standards, which are an endless source of great and moving tunes.
Although focusing on the saxophone, the album offers some extraordinary accordion playing and of course the vocals by Winstone are always a joyful occasion to hear her Artistry and alone a worth having this album in your collection.
Overall this is a very unusual album, full of deeply reflective music, which might take some time to get in love with, but that is bound to happen sooner or later. It definitely deserves to be discovered, if a copy can be found, which probably won´t be easy. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | Updated: 15/01/2021Posted: 14/01/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | IAIN BALLAMY ~ RIVERSPHERE
BABEL 25161 (Barcode: 5070004082703) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion
Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025
This is an album by British Jazz saxophonist / composer Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Rob LuftFind albums by this artist, bassist Conor ChaplinFind albums by this artist and drummer Corrie DickFind albums by this artist. Trumpeters Laura JurdFind albums by this artist and Charlie BallamyFind albums by this artist guest on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, five of which are credited to the performing musicians, one each is by Ballamy and Luft, one is by Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist and two are by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist.
The music offers a beautiful mixture of Jazz and contemporary Ambient aura, with Ballamy’s seductive saxophone work, Luft’s spacy guitar layers and delicate rhythm section support, with excellent electric bass work. The resulting ambiance is quite unique, very romantic and relaxed, offering a pleasant, but not trivial listening experience. The three tracks featuring trumpets fit the rest of the material perfectly, staying within the same vein and adding a touch of Scandinavian Jazz moods.
Overall, this is a refreshing, and highly satisfying experiment, expanding the Jazz elements with more contemporary electric ambient vistas, but all perfectly within the aesthetic borders one expects form musicians of the class of Ballamy. I had a surprisingly marvelous time listening to this album and recommend it wholeheartedly.
| | Updated: 01/12/2025Posted: 01/12/2025 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | GORDON BECK ~ PAY NOW, LIVE LATER: LIVE AT THE BASS CLEF `85
JAZZ IN BRITAIN 75 (Barcode: 5060774190968) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1985 Released: 2025
This is an archival live album the British Jazz pianist / composer / bandleader Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist, recorded in a trio and quintet settings with saxophonists Ray WarleighFind albums by this artist and Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave GreenFind albums by this artist and drummer Spike WellsFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, six of which are original compositions by Beck and one is by his long-time collaborator, guitarist Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded at the “Bass Clef” club in London, owned by legendary bassist / author Peter IndFind albums by this artist.
The music covers Beck’s recording career up to the time of the recording, with the first two tracks originating from his early album “GyroscopeFind albums with this title” (played here by the trio) and the rest of the tracks originating from his later recordings, mostly released on the French JMSFind albums on this label label, including those he recorded with Holdsworth. Only one of the tracks offers a previously unrecorded composition.
The music and the performances are of course absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth being listened to, and this album, like all the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label’s releases, saves it form falling into oblivion. Beck was one of the most important British Jazz heroes, and considering the fact that his concert recordings are quite rare, this great album is a very important addition to his collective discography.
The two lengthy trio tracks present the more Avant-Garde side of Beck’s career, while the rest of the music is more melodic and stylistically mainstream oriented, but by no means less ambitious and aesthetically challenging. Hearing both parts of the live performance offers a splendid opportunity to connect the dots in Beck’s artistic development.
Of course all five musicians playing here are some of the best British Jazz veterans, and Bellamy, who was just twenty-one at the time of the recording, proudly represents the next generation of the British Jazz Masters.
Overall, this is another most welcome and highly interesting release by Jazz In Britain label, which serves as the most important “keeper of the faith” of the local music industry, and a “life saver” of countless reminders of how brilliant the British Jazz scene used to be in the past, all of which might have been lost forever under the endless musical rubbish piling on top of us ceaselessly. We are of course grateful for the effort and dedication!
| | Updated: 28/11/2025Posted: 28/11/2025 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | BILL BRUFORD / EARTHWORKS ~ LIVE AT THE SHAUBURG BREMEN 1987
MOOSICUS 1215 (Barcode: 885513121523) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1987 Released: 2022
This is an archival live album by the British Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist and the first edition of his sensational quartet called EarthworksFind albums by this artist, which also included saxophonist Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, pianist Django BatesFind albums by this artist and bassist Mick HuttonFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by Radio Bremen in November 25, 1987, and offers ten tracks, all original compositions by the quartet members.
Bruford founded Earthworks in 1986 after spending almost twenty years as member of cutting edge Progressive Rock bands like YesFind albums by this artist (of which he was a founding member), King CrimsonFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, U.K.Find albums by this artist and his own band called simply BrufordFind albums by this artist, returning to his Jazz roots. Earthworks comprised of the crème de la crème of the young British Jazz scene at the time and took the local as well as international scene by storm.
This live recording finds the quartet in absolute top form, over a year after their debut album was recorded and following extensive touring, which allowed them to develop the material and their unique musical approach. In contrast to expectations and speculations, Earthworks was a bona-fide Jazz quartet, which did not follow the Fusion path, which would have been more natural as a continuation of Bruford’s musical path up to that moment. Bellamy and Bates arrived from the sensational Loose TubesFind albums by this artist Big Band, which was one of British Jazz most surprising ensembles during the 1980, and Hutton was already a highly sought after young Jazz bassist on the local scene. Together they were simply unstoppable and the level of their performances was absolutely sensational. They were able to create a complex fury of sound, which was completely unprecedented on the British Jazz scene, and Bruford’s drumming behind Earthworks in as absolute peak of his career.
Overall, this album is a “missing link” in the Earthworks discography, from the period between the debut and the second album “Dig?Find albums with this title”, and of course an essential part in the Bruford discography, which none of his many fans will want to miss.
| | Updated: 17/06/2023Posted: 17/06/2023 | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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