ADRIAN COX - The Hour Off
www.adriancox.bandcamp.music.bandcamp.com
Adrian Cox (clarinet and vocals); Joe Webb (piano); Simon Read (double bass); Gethin Jones (drums)
Imagine the scenario. Four overworked and tired musicians recording an album called ' Now Is The Spring'. Original songs, lots of arrangements, hard work. It is August 2019, summer, Studio 7 music, North London. They finally get an hour's downtime. What to do? A walk? Trip to the pub? no, these four got together and created a recording. The music was raw, fun, slightly crazy and it got saved, shelved and not really planned for release - but somehow important to keep. Then came Covid 19 and lockdown. Adrian told me, "On one of the 4 days in the studio, I said 'let’s just have a play for an hour' and we recorded it. Suddenly the joy of just playing together seemed important to remember, to note and remind people that this was fun, playing together is important and it will happen again."That essence of fun, four musicians simply enjoying playing together is captured on this album.
'My Blue Heaven' is given a facelift - if you are familiar with James Taylor's version or even Gene Austin's droll number, forget you ever heard the song. This is a delight from the start with the slow 1,2,1,1 from the piano and a gentle clarinet before the break and change is uplifting and just a delight, Adrian Cox easing in seemingly effortless runs and trills - many passing over the change of register and this is fun, swingy and very fine. The backing is solid, strong and the clarinet uses this as a backdrop against which to soar and sing. The easy, laid back piano section is uber-relaxed with clarinet over gentle percussion and the return to the opening rhythm in the piano finishes the piece. At the beginning one of the band can be heard saying, ' let's just play it and see what happens'. Well, it happened good.
'Just One Of Those Things' is great; more of a scratch number with each musician working their role out but it works and fits after a while, making another fun number, Adrian Cox finding additional altissimo notes on the clarinet. ' Body and Soul' is delivered in a manner so laid back it is a wonder the band were not found horizontal by the end of it. There is a gorgeous bass-led section over piano by Simon Read and Joe Webb, with the drums snoozily brushing in the background. 'Sunny Side Of The Street' is given the Cox treatment with some great playing from all four musicians whilst 'Just You And Me' is opened with frantic piano playing from Joe Webb, with the rest of the ensemble following suit, the tempo fast, not so furious but very engaging. The piano solo over the top of tight support is played so fast you wonder Webb's fingers don't get in a knot. 'Swingin' is opened again by the piano in frivolous mood and the clarinet joins in the same vein whilst the drums and bass sew the bottom of the bag together, allowing Cox to soar away and high. The piano solo is intoxicating in its exuberance and each musician solos well. This is an uplifting track.
'Memories of You ' is swinging, heady and slightly blissful with an outre from Cox to make your head swim whilst 'Lady Be Good' has all the feel of a 50s bottle club with its dancy rhythms over a tight ensemble and 'Stardust'- which closes the album makes a loving doff of the hat towards Cole and others who have performed it - but in a Cox manner. His vocals are fine and a pleasant surprise at the end of a very fine set. A welcome return to the clarinet gives the finish style and aplomb.
To have not released this would have been a shame - and for these musicians, an hour off proved a very productive time. The sheer fun of the recording comes across and the dynamics between the musicians is crystal clear. Cox's clarinet is superb and the support from the rest of the band is steady, whilst each of them also shines at different times. I have heard sets done between heavy schedules and there often is, as here, a purity in the integrity of the music - probably because the musicians are in tune with each other. This is music to lift you out of lock-down. If you are feeling a bit fed up or at a loose end, put this on. You will be smiling like a Cheshire cat by the finish.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
www.adriancox.bandcamp.music.bandcamp.com
Adrian Cox (clarinet and vocals); Joe Webb (piano); Simon Read (double bass); Gethin Jones (drums)
Imagine the scenario. Four overworked and tired musicians recording an album called ' Now Is The Spring'. Original songs, lots of arrangements, hard work. It is August 2019, summer, Studio 7 music, North London. They finally get an hour's downtime. What to do? A walk? Trip to the pub? no, these four got together and created a recording. The music was raw, fun, slightly crazy and it got saved, shelved and not really planned for release - but somehow important to keep. Then came Covid 19 and lockdown. Adrian told me, "On one of the 4 days in the studio, I said 'let’s just have a play for an hour' and we recorded it. Suddenly the joy of just playing together seemed important to remember, to note and remind people that this was fun, playing together is important and it will happen again."That essence of fun, four musicians simply enjoying playing together is captured on this album.
'My Blue Heaven' is given a facelift - if you are familiar with James Taylor's version or even Gene Austin's droll number, forget you ever heard the song. This is a delight from the start with the slow 1,2,1,1 from the piano and a gentle clarinet before the break and change is uplifting and just a delight, Adrian Cox easing in seemingly effortless runs and trills - many passing over the change of register and this is fun, swingy and very fine. The backing is solid, strong and the clarinet uses this as a backdrop against which to soar and sing. The easy, laid back piano section is uber-relaxed with clarinet over gentle percussion and the return to the opening rhythm in the piano finishes the piece. At the beginning one of the band can be heard saying, ' let's just play it and see what happens'. Well, it happened good.
'Just One Of Those Things' is great; more of a scratch number with each musician working their role out but it works and fits after a while, making another fun number, Adrian Cox finding additional altissimo notes on the clarinet. ' Body and Soul' is delivered in a manner so laid back it is a wonder the band were not found horizontal by the end of it. There is a gorgeous bass-led section over piano by Simon Read and Joe Webb, with the drums snoozily brushing in the background. 'Sunny Side Of The Street' is given the Cox treatment with some great playing from all four musicians whilst 'Just You And Me' is opened with frantic piano playing from Joe Webb, with the rest of the ensemble following suit, the tempo fast, not so furious but very engaging. The piano solo over the top of tight support is played so fast you wonder Webb's fingers don't get in a knot. 'Swingin' is opened again by the piano in frivolous mood and the clarinet joins in the same vein whilst the drums and bass sew the bottom of the bag together, allowing Cox to soar away and high. The piano solo is intoxicating in its exuberance and each musician solos well. This is an uplifting track.
'Memories of You ' is swinging, heady and slightly blissful with an outre from Cox to make your head swim whilst 'Lady Be Good' has all the feel of a 50s bottle club with its dancy rhythms over a tight ensemble and 'Stardust'- which closes the album makes a loving doff of the hat towards Cole and others who have performed it - but in a Cox manner. His vocals are fine and a pleasant surprise at the end of a very fine set. A welcome return to the clarinet gives the finish style and aplomb.
To have not released this would have been a shame - and for these musicians, an hour off proved a very productive time. The sheer fun of the recording comes across and the dynamics between the musicians is crystal clear. Cox's clarinet is superb and the support from the rest of the band is steady, whilst each of them also shines at different times. I have heard sets done between heavy schedules and there often is, as here, a purity in the integrity of the music - probably because the musicians are in tune with each other. This is music to lift you out of lock-down. If you are feeling a bit fed up or at a loose end, put this on. You will be smiling like a Cheshire cat by the finish.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
