ALEX MERRITT / STEVE FISHWICK QUINTET - Mind-Ear-Ladder
Fresh Sound New Talent – FSNT 631
Alex Merrit - tenor sax; Steve Fishwick - trumpet; John Turville - piano; Mick Coady - bass; Matt Fishwick - drums
Alex Merrit is a fine tenor player, known for his association with the formidable drummer Jeff Williams, and Steve Fishwick’s impeccable taste, adventurous musicianship and awesome chops are renowned, so the combination of both players with a top-flight rhythm section is a promising prospect. Opening track, the wryly named ‘UHDC (Upper Holloway Dental Clinic)’ places us firmly in the loping, open swing territory explored by Wayne Shorter in his pivotal 1960s recordings: comparisons are odious of course, but nonetheless we are invited to draw parallels between the way Fishwick’s effortlessly high-flying, clear-toned precision contrasts with Merrit’s more earthy tones and the classic Hubbard/Shorter frontline. Compositions are by both leaders in turn, with the opener provided by John Turville, who reinforces his reputation for taste, swing and harmonic invention - listen to him swing on Fishwick’s ‘Dr Wu, What’s Wrong With You?’. Mick Coady’s impeccably grooving bass has the classic gut-string warmth and drummer Matt Fishwick keeps things swinging while ensuring the that temperature remains within a certain restrained range. The soloing throughout is as strong as you’d expect from such a top-flight band and the compositions ring the changes of the most interesting aspects of the Blue Note sixties formulas with integrity and ingenuity - Merrit’s “At St Georges” is a progressive highlight, as is Fishwick’s beautiful ‘Linda’ - so that this never feels like an exercise in nostalgia. A very enjoyable outing from a front-rank band playing my favourite kind of jazz with passion and understanding - catch it live if you can.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
Fresh Sound New Talent – FSNT 631
Alex Merrit - tenor sax; Steve Fishwick - trumpet; John Turville - piano; Mick Coady - bass; Matt Fishwick - drums
Alex Merrit is a fine tenor player, known for his association with the formidable drummer Jeff Williams, and Steve Fishwick’s impeccable taste, adventurous musicianship and awesome chops are renowned, so the combination of both players with a top-flight rhythm section is a promising prospect. Opening track, the wryly named ‘UHDC (Upper Holloway Dental Clinic)’ places us firmly in the loping, open swing territory explored by Wayne Shorter in his pivotal 1960s recordings: comparisons are odious of course, but nonetheless we are invited to draw parallels between the way Fishwick’s effortlessly high-flying, clear-toned precision contrasts with Merrit’s more earthy tones and the classic Hubbard/Shorter frontline. Compositions are by both leaders in turn, with the opener provided by John Turville, who reinforces his reputation for taste, swing and harmonic invention - listen to him swing on Fishwick’s ‘Dr Wu, What’s Wrong With You?’. Mick Coady’s impeccably grooving bass has the classic gut-string warmth and drummer Matt Fishwick keeps things swinging while ensuring the that temperature remains within a certain restrained range. The soloing throughout is as strong as you’d expect from such a top-flight band and the compositions ring the changes of the most interesting aspects of the Blue Note sixties formulas with integrity and ingenuity - Merrit’s “At St Georges” is a progressive highlight, as is Fishwick’s beautiful ‘Linda’ - so that this never feels like an exercise in nostalgia. A very enjoyable outing from a front-rank band playing my favourite kind of jazz with passion and understanding - catch it live if you can.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
