Record Reviews
10 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | JULIAN ARGUELLES ~ CIRCULARITY
CAM JAZZ 7872 (Barcode: 8052405141149) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014
This is an album by British saxophonist / composer Julian ArguellesFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist John TaylorFind albums by this artist, legendary bassist Dave HollandFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight original compositions, all by Arguelles.
The performances are everything one can expect from a team of this statue – souring and brilliant all the way, with superb contributions by all four musicians. Personally this album is of special interest as one of the last recordings by Taylor before his untimely death, and his performances are truly breathtaking as expected. Also the ultra-rare appearance of Holland on a British album adds spice, especially since the music is rather conventional as far as Holland’s usual environment is concerned, which offers a rather unusual opportunity to hear him play straightforwardly (in the best meaning of the word).
The compositions, as already mentioned, are not exactly my favorite music, mostly kept well within the mainstream and only the more open pieces offer a suitable environment for the musicians to show their best side, but that is all a matter of personal preferences of course. The strength of the quartet alone is a reason why this album is worth listening to and enjoy it. Personally, again, the album’s sound is rather harsh and unbalanced, which bothers me a bit, but perhaps it’s just me.
In short for British Jazz enthusiasts this is something well worthy of inclusion in their collections.
| | Updated: 14/04/2021Posted: 14/04/2021 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | 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 |
  | DJANGO BATES ~ MUSIC FOR THE THIRD POLICEMAN
AH UM 003 ~ UK ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion
Recorded: 1990 Released: 1990
This is a wonderful and completely obscure album by British pianist / composer / bandleader Django BatesFind albums by this artist, recorded with and octet comprising of saxophonist Steve BuckleyFind albums by this artist, cellist / bassist Steve BerryFind albums by this artist, drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist, guitarist Stuart HallFind albums by this artist, violinist Sarah HarrisonFind albums by this artist, bassoonist Robert JuritzFind albums by this artist and clarinetist Dai PritchardFind albums by this artist. Three additional guest musician participate on selected tracks. The album presents thirteen movements / pieces based on the book “The Third Policeman” by Irish writer Flann O`BrienFind albums by this artist. The album was released on the short-lived legendary Ah Um label.
The album offers quite unusual instrumentation, similar to a small orchestra, as well as beautiful cross-genre compositions, which combine Jazz with Classical Music, cinematic, vaudeville, Irish Folklore and other influences, and is a superb example of Bates’ great talent as a composer / orchestrator. The music is quite complex and reflects the convoluted plot of the book, which of course is worth reading on its own merits.
In some respects, one can look at the album as a soundtrack to a movie, based on the book, which alas was not yet filmed, but surely deserves to be, with the soundtrack already ready. The album is a great opportunity to discover a different musical personality of Bates, much unlike his more familiar Jazz image. It remains to be one of my favorite albums in his extensive recorded legacy.
Overall, this is another hidden British Jazz gem, which took me years to find a copy of, but the wait was definitely worth it big time. If you can find a copy, grab it, no questions asked!
Side Note
British composer / arranger Nick PurnellFind albums by this artist founded the short-lived Ah UmFind albums on this label label in 1989, which existed until 1993 and released a total of sixteen albums with some of the top British Jazz musicians of that period and a few American guests, which remain as of the finest recordings of that period. For some inexplicable reason all these albums are almost completely obsolete today, despite their excellent musical value, which is a shame, as they all deserve an honorable place in any decent British Jazz collection.
| | Updated: 12/03/2025Posted: 12/03/2025 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHRIS LAURENCE ~ KEN WHEELER: SOME GNU ONES
JAZZ IN BRITAIN 29 (Barcode: 5060774190296) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2020 - 2021 Released: 2021
This is a wonderful EP album by British Jazz bassist / composer Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist, which presents three pieces composed by the iconic British (of Canadian origin) trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist specifically for Laurence. Two of the pieces were given to Laurence in manuscript form, one of them in incomplete form, which was finalized especially for this recording by Pete ChurchillFind albums by this artist. One of the pieces (“C-Man”) was recorded on the legendary 1992 “KayakFind albums with this title” album by Wheeler, featuring Laurence on bass.
The music was beautifully recorded by a superb team, which includes, alongside Laurence, vibraphonist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist, drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Tom WalshFind albums by this artist and a string quintet.
The music is everything one could expect from Wheeler’s compositions, a dreamy, lyrical and superbly melodic Jazz, which is completely timeless and eternal. The superb recording quality and the performances by the participating musicians are nothing short of heavenly.
Overall, this is a true “two birds with one stone”: Wheeler’s sublime music and the playing of Laurence, who has for so long been an unheralded hero of the British Jazz scene, a highly sensitive and totally reliable musician. Despite the less than half an hour time mark, this is an immediate classic recording, which deserves an honorable place in every decent British Jazz collection. Again well done by the small crew of the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label.
| | Updated: 12/12/2021Posted: 12/12/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | CHRIS LAURENCE ~ NEW VIEW
BASHO 18 (Barcode: 832929001826) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2005 - 2006 Released: 2006
Bassist Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist has been one of the great "silent" heroes of the British Jazz scene for decades, providing his exquisitely solid, yet delicate and always sophisticated bass lines to countless Jazz albums, including many of the pivotal recordings of the late 1960s / early 1970s, which revolutionized European Jazz and emancipated it for the overwhelming stylistic and conceptual US supremacy. But his genius is also recognized and respected beyond the Jazz field, and he has an active career both as a Classical player and studio musician in the Pop / Rock world, where he contributed his talent playing behind some of the biggest names in the music business.
And yet, for all these years, Laurence never recorded as a leader, something that has been finally remedied by this superb release. For this session he opted for an intimate setting of a piano-less quartet, which includes yet another "silent" hero and a veteran of the British Jazz scene – vibraphonist / percussionist Frank RicottiFind albums by this artist, who also participated in countless pivotal recordings, sometimes alongside Laurence. Sadly both Laurence and Ricotti have never really received the proper recognition for the enormous contribution they both made to the British Jazz, with books and on-line sources mentioning them mostly in-passing. Hopefully this will be remedied sometime in the near feature (and before obituaries need to be written). But back to the music; Ricotti´s vibraphone is the ideal companion to Laurence´s bass playing and sets the tone to the laid-back, delicate and slightly melancholic atmosphere that underlines this album´s overall feel. The two other members of the quartet are no strangers, as they have recorded with Laurence before, both being representatives of the second generation of British Jazz heroes: guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist and drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist. Parricelli plays both electric and acoustic guitars and his playing on this album is actually the best I´ve heard so far, even superior to the performances on his solo recordings. His licks ornament the music, using just the precise amount of notes needed, leaving flashy excursions aside, which is exactly what is appropriate here. France does a splendid job keeping everything together rhythmically; again exactly what a great drummer needs to do first and foremost.
It goes beyond saying that Laurence´s bass lines are a delight from start to finish, which is only to be expected and Ricotti´s vibraphone performance matches the (unfortunately very few) Masters of that beautiful instrument. The music chosen comes from the songbooks of great British Jazz composers, with whom Laurence recorded in the past, like Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist, Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, John SurmanFind albums by this artist and John TaylorFind albums by this artist. Fellow US musicans – Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist and Andy LaverneFind albums by this artist - also get their share and even one Joni MitchellFind albums by this artist tune is included (Joni´s close ties with the Jazz world are obvious). If all this is not enough, there is also a cherry on top of the proverbial cake: the divine Norma WinstoneFind albums by this artist adds her sublime (as usual) vocals to a couple of the tunes, another gesture of gratitude for the sake of old times. So, please, buy this album and by doing so you will not only get some superb music, but you will pay some long-overdue tribute to this man´s talents and his life-long dedication to the music we love!
| | Updated: 30/05/2025Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN TAYLOR ~ ANGEL OF THE PRESENCE
CAM JAZZ 7778 (Barcode: 8024709777829) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005
This is the debut album by the last trio led by British Jazz pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and British drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight pieces, four composed by Taylor and two each by Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist and Steve SwallowFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded "live in the studio" at the fabulous Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg and offers a sublime sound quality.
The trio recorded four albums between 2004 and 2006, which are all breathtakingly beautiful and constitute a pinnacle of Taylor´s recording career in the last period of his life ending with his premature death in 2015.
The music is a classic example of Jazz piano trio mastery, which has but a few equals in the Century long history of Jazz music. Just a few other great trios managed to find a perfect balance between the piano and the rhythm section, like the one offered here. With each and every note perfectly audible and perfectly uttered, the music becomes a flux of emotional and intellectual stimulation of the highest possible level. Taylor´s playing was always a fountain of lyricism, and with age his touch of the keyboard become somewhat more sparing as if each note meant everything there was to say at a given moment.
Of course the trio became a perfect vehicle as a result of common respect and telepathic understanding between all three members, becoming way more than just the sum of its ingredients. Danielsson and France become natural extensions of Taylor´s musical personality, and the unison proves to be unbeatable.
The choice of material reflects Taylor´s lifelong friendships with Wheeler and Swallow and their common creative legacy well documented on their recordings together, which of course are highly recommended.
Overall this is one of the finest Jazz piano trio recordings, not only in Taylor´s discography, but in Jazz history in general, which means it truly is an indispensable ingredient of any serious music collection. Absolutely essential!
| | Updated: 05/09/2020Posted: 05/09/2020 | CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN TAYLOR ~ GIULIA`S THURSDAYS
CAM JAZZ 7847 (Barcode: 8052405140463) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2012
This is the final of four albums recorded by British pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist and his last trio with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and British drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist for the Italian CAM JazzFind albums on this label label. Although recorded at the wonderful Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg in 2006, it was released only six years later, preceded by "Angel Of The PresenceFind albums with this title", "WhirlpoolFind albums with this title" and "Requiem For A DreamerFind albums with this title".
The album is very unusual, since instead of Taylor playing his own compositions or compositions by his fellow Jazz musicians, this time he offers his interpretations of music composed by the wonderful Italian cinematic composer Carlo RustichelliFind albums by this artist. The albums presents nine pieces, eight being themes used in Italian films and one in a TV series, which gave the album its title, all composed by Rustichelli.
The highly romantic, lyrical music suits Taylor perfectly and the trio´s treatments are superb examples of the classic Jazz piano trio Artistry. Although Taylor was equally capable of exploring more adventurous ground, his tone and delicate touches on the keyboard are completely unique and accompanied by these two first class musicians the music is able to soar high and far also within the melodic environment.
Taylor´s untimely death in 2015 deprived all British / European Jazz lovers of one of its greatest talents, the only consolation being his relatively extensive recording legacy both as a leader and a sideman, of which this album is a prime example.
For the many connoisseurs of Taylor´s music this album is an essential addition to their collection, but every Jazz piano trio lover, British or otherwise, should find this absolutely irresistible. A Holy Grail of the genre, if there ever was one…
| | Updated: 18/10/2020Posted: 18/10/2020 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN TAYLOR ~ REQUIEM FOR A DREAMER
CAM JAZZ 7834 (Barcode: 8052405140111) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2008 Released: 2011
This is an album by British pianist / composer John TaylorFind albums by this artist recorded with his last trio with Swedish bassist Palle DanielssonFind albums by this artist and British drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist, on this album expanded to a quartet with the addition of the British saxophonist Julian ArguellesFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the legendary Bauer Studios in Ludwigsburg and although recorded in 2008 was only released in 2011. The album presents a seven-part suite composed by Taylor.
The music, commissioned in 2007, was debuted and then recorded a year later. It is based on Taylor´s admiration of the works by American Science-Fiction author Kurt VonnegutFind albums by this artist, with the titles of the suite´s parts referencing to various works by Vonnegut, as described by Taylor in the album´s liner notes.
The music, as expected, is a marvelous showcase of Taylor´s idiosyncratic compositional abilities, which have been his trademark for the duration of his entire career. A superb symbiosis of Romanticism, unique approach to Jazz and marvelous sense of harmony were always present within his music, which he, luckily for his followers, created prolifically over the years for his own recordings but also for many other Jazz musicians, British and others.
Taylor´s death in 2015 was a devastating blow not only to the British Jazz community, but to the worldwide circle of Jazz lovers, as his presence on any recording was always a seal of the highest quality achievable.
The Taylor / Danielsson / France trio recorded three additional albums between 2004 and 2006: "Angel Of The PresenceFind albums with this title", "WhirlpoolFind albums with this title" and "Giulia`s ThursdaysFind albums with this title", all of which are also absolutely marvelous and worth having.
Overall this is an absolute must in any serious music collection and a most enjoyable listening experience, which can be repeated time after time with no fear of disappointment. It is unbelievable that it´s been five years since John left us in the void…
| | Updated: 03/07/2020Posted: 03/07/2020 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KENNY WHEELER ~ SONGS FOR QUINTET
ECM 2388 (Barcode: 602547046536) ~ UK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015
I am writing these words with heavy heart, realizing that this is an epitaph of sorts, as this is the last album by British (Canadian born) Jazz trumpeter / composer Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, recorded less than a year before his distressing death. Wheeler´s music was a continuous element of the soundtrack of my life for over fifty years and I was lucky to hear him performing live and talk to him on various occasions and of course listening to his numerous albums, always following his endeavors, from near and far. For me Wheeler always epitomized the absolute essence of Jazz: intelligence, sensitivity, superb ability to compose unforgettable melodies, or as he liked to call them "songs", and most importantly his open-mindedness and courage to step beyond the obvious and the familiar into terra incognita. It is impossible to imagine the modern British Jazz, and in fact European Jazz as a whole, without his crucial contributions, as he was always there in the eye of the hurricane of its essentially important developments.
This album presents a recording by an all British quintet, which includes two British Jazz veterans of the first post WWII generation: saxophonist Stan SulzmannFind albums by this artist (born 1948) and bassist Chris LaurenceFind albums by this artist (born 1949) and two veterans of slightly younger generation: guitarist John ParricelliFind albums by this artist (born 1959) and drummer Martin FranceFind albums by this artist (born 1964). Together they perform nine original compositions by Wheeler, which are again called "songs", as they are all beautifully melodic. The quintet expands these melodic themes into modern Jazz miniatures, with a typical British Jazz elegance, minimalism and virtuosity.
All music created by Wheeler over time became part of the absolutely classic Jazz heritage and this album is no different. Both the compositions and their treatment by the quintet are simply perfect in every respect and the listener is treated to a "final product" of the highest quality, being simply left to relax and enjoy this glorious music. Whatever one´s musical background and level of Jazz appreciation, this music is simply beyond being analyzed and its aesthetics should suffice to be recognized as a masterpiece.
Of course life will continue, as it always does, regardless of who is left behind. The collective human heritage, which has been expanded and enriched by Wheeler´s presence, will be hopefully properly remembered and cherished. Although in today´s world humanity suffers from the ever shortening attention span, the human ingenuity and culture will prevail in the long rage, provided of course that humanity manages to avoid self obliteration. Wheeler´s recordings are all beautiful gems and let´s treat them as such, today, tomorrow, forever…
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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