Record Reviews
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  | DEMON BROWN / JONATHAN GEE ~ GOOD COP BAD COP
33 RECORDS 061 ~ UK ~ Jazz
Demon BrownFind albums by this artist (trumpet) & Jonathan GeeFind albums by this artist (piano) are both representatives of the young generation of UK jazz players, who share not only deep knowledge and perfect technical skills, but also a fantastic feel for the music. This album is special, as it was recorded in Israel and all the other players on it are young Israeli jazz musicians who befriended Brown & Gee during their two Israeli tours. The music smokes throughout, a typical modern jazz that leaves plenty of space to improvise but never leaves the melody line too far behind.
| | Updated: 14/02/2023Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JONATHAN GEE ~ THE LIONS REVISITED
ASC 193 (Barcode: 7141148054074) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2021 - 2022 Released: 2022
This is an album by British pianist / composer / bandleader and now also vocalist Jonathan GeeFind albums by this artist. Active on the local British scene as well as in other European countries since the early 1990s, Gee has about a dozen albums as a leader to his credit, and about twice as many as a sideman, which certainly testifies about his experience.
This album marks a new step in his career, finding him in the role of a vocalist. The album presents eleven songs on which he accompanies himself playing piano. Bassist Andy HamillFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks and guitarist Tom RemonFind albums by this artist guests on one track. Four of these songs are his own compositions and the rest are Pop / Jazz standards.
Gee is not really what most people would consider as a vocalist, but rather a vocal interpreter. Yes, he sings, but in a very unique way, which floats between spoken word, cabaret, acting and singing, all in a charming way, but quite idiosyncratic as it is. This of course really depends on the listener and how much he is willing to “bend” his concept of singing, before deciding if this is acceptable.
Me, being a flexible person and a libertarian as far as Arts are concerned, loved every piece of this unique approach and I hope other can follow suit. It takes a bit of sense of humor and a sense of fun, but this really is a lovely piece of music from start to finish. Just take the stick out of your behind.
Overall, this is a lovely adventure by a veteran Jazz pianist, who changes his vocation and steps boldly into the unknown. A good collection of songs we are all familiar with, interpreted with a twist, which some might dislike but many can enjoy – yours truly included. Life is too short to hang on to the samo-samo… way to go Jonathan!
| | Updated: 14/02/2023Posted: 14/02/2023 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | OHISASHIBURI ~ REIMAGINING THE BEATLES
VERTE 20004 (Barcode: 8032790260915) ~ ITALY ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020
This is an album by the OhisashiburiFind albums by this artist Jazz quartet, which comprises of British pianist / composer Jonathan GeeFind albums by this artist and Italian saxophonist Gaetano PartipiloFind albums by this artist, bassist Giuseppe BassiFind albums by this artist and drummer Fabio AccardiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album presents six interpretations of BeatlesFind albums by this artist songs as well as three original compositions, two by Gee and one by Partipilo.
I treat a priori any Jazz album with music by The Beatles with extreme caution, as over time such attempts proved to be rather corny at best. Sure, The Beatles wrote many nice songs, but somehow those never sound just right when taken over to the Jazz idiom, with rare exceptions, all in my opinion of course.
This album is an effort to treat the songs with a less conventional approach, and although the quartet offers wonderful performances, I find it difficult to connect with the result. The original compositions, however, are a different story altogether, which of course makes me wish that all the tracks on the album would have been originals. The level of musicianship simply jumps up several levels and the music gets a true kick.
Having said that, considering how many people like those Beatles tunes, perhaps it wasn’t such a bad decision after all. The album offers an excellent sound quality and can be enjoyed by a wide audience, not necessarily from a strict Jazz hardcore circles.
| | Updated: 28/08/2021Posted: 27/08/2021 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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