Record Reviews

ANDY SHEPPARD ~ DANCING MAN & WOMAN PROVOCATEUR 1020 (Barcode: 5038491102021) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1999 Released: 2000 British saxophonist / composer Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist needs no introduction to followers of British Jazz. He earned an impressive reputation since the late 1970s, playing in many famous ensembles both in Britain and abroad, like the ones led by George RussellFind albums by this artist, Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and Carla BleyFind albums by this artist. His extensive discography recorded over the years proves his status as one of Britain’s foremost instrumentalists beyond a shadow of a doubt. Sheppard has a rare talent of combining beautiful melodies and expanded improvisation is a way that makes his music accessible to a relatively large audience on one hand, but remains intellectually challenging on the other. He is also extremely versatile and open-minded, always ready to combine in his music the Jazz tradition with other elements like World Music, electronics and even club culture. In 1998 Sheppard joined the roster of the prestigious British ProvocateurFind albums on this label Records label, and released a series of landmark recordings on that label in the following years. For his debut recording on Provocateur (“Learning To WaveFind albums with this title”), Sheppard formed a quintet which included some of his faithful cohorts from the past, as well as new players: John ParricelliFind albums by this artist – guitar, Steve LodderFind albums by this artist – keyboards, veteran bass player Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist and percussionist Paul ClarvisFind albums by this artist. On this album, the follow-up release, the quintet is expanded to a septet with the addition of the legendary US electric bass player Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and young tabla player Kuljit BhamraFind albums by this artist. Sheppard composed all the music, which is mostly low-key and lyrical, beautifully melodic and sometimes even sentimental (in a positive way of course). His soprano saxophone lures the listener like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, being extremely addictive. All together this is a most pleasant journey into the lighter side of Jazz, without any compromise on quality. Recommended to listeners who love a great melody with their Jazz meal.

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ANDY SHEPPARD ~ MOVEMENTS IN COLOUR ECM 2062 (Barcode: 602517950429) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 This is the debut album on the ECMFind albums on this label label by British saxophonist Andy SheppardFind albums by this artist, who has a strong presence on the UK scene since the late 1980s (see his brilliant recordings on the ProvocateurFind albums on this label label) and is internationally known as a member of Carla BleyFind albums by this artist´s band. Sheppard composed all the music on this album, which is lyrical and melodic, but spiced with World Music elements and ambient / electronic effects, creating a unique and very interesting atmosphere. The quintet, which recorded the album comprises of an Anglo-Norwegian lineup, with Sheppard´s old colleague guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist (see also his recordings on Provocateur), percussionist Kuljit BhamraFind albums by this artist, both from the UK of course and Norwegians: guitarist Eivind AarsetFind albums by this artist and bassist extraordinaire Arild AndersenFind albums by this artist. The usage of Indian tabla and percussion instead of regular drums adds a beautifully exotic mood to the music, which is moving and interesting. Recommended!

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