ALEX WEBB - British Standard Time
Lateralize LR013CD
Alex Webb – piano, organ, MD; Jo Harrop, Luca Manning, Tony Momrelle, Carroll Thompson – vocals; Tony Kofi – soprano, alto and baritone sax; Leo Richardson – tenor sax, flute; Andy Davies – trumpet, flugelhorn; Nathaniel Cross – trombone; Ciyo Brown – guitar (tracks 5, 7, 9 and 10); Jamie McCredie – guitar (tracks 11 and 14); Flo Moore – electric and acoustic bass; Sophie Alloway – drums, percussion
Recorded May - June 2021
After spending much of his time and attention on the Great American Songbook, Alex Webb has switched his focus for British Standard Time on music penned on his native shores, and why not indeed. In fact, the resulting album can boast not just some excellent songs, superb musicianship and arrangements but can also rival those of his American counterparts.
Throughout there is a both a lovely mix and variety to the set, each of the four vocalists have a very individual style and sound of their own yet a sense of continuity that Webb's arrangements bring to proceedings. In doing so he has cleverly captured not just the mood of the song but also the personality of the vocalist on each title. All the arrangements feature the whole band that swing with a laid back yet contemporary feel, and is stuffed full of some of the best jazz musicians in the UK. This ensures that the music remains fluid yet supportive of the songs, and also delivers up some excellent solos to boot.
The choice of both songs and the vocalist to perform each, Webb has struck gold. Former Incognito front man, Tony Momrelle, features on two numbers only but makes both count. Opening the album with a superbly swinging 'Give Me The Night' and a relaxed reading of Ray Noble's 'The Very Thought Of You', Momrelle is most engaging showing a real feel for the genre.
Carroll Thompson, widely regarded as the "Queen of Lovers Rock" also shows flare and versatility in her featured numbers with an exuberant 'Lullaby Of Birdland' complete with scat chorus, and a delicate 'Try A Little Tenderness' that tugs at the heartstrings. Webb's arrangements play to her strengths in this setting with a perfect tempo for 'Breakfast For Two', and the wonderful use of guitar and organ for Noel Coward's 'Mad About The Boy'.
Not content with borrowing from the soul and R&B world inhabited by Momrelle and the reggae scene of Carroll Thompson, Alex Webb is keen to plunder not just the jazz repertoire but also that of the pop and rock genre for his material. A chancey undertaking maybe, but with skilful deployment of the superb band assembled and choice of song for the chosen vocalists he has brought together the best of the fertile writing talent that the UK has produced.
I make no secret of my admiration for the work of Luca Manning, who is the most important new vocalist of his generation and the only near rival to the brilliant Ian Shaw, and ensures that he makes the most of his outings here. His jazz chops and subtle swing are given full rein on a suitably secretive version of 'Let's Slip Away' with his phrasing of the lyrics both hushed and compelling in equal measure. Equally compelling are Manning's other features on Rag'n'Bone Man's 'Human' with its strong opening statement from bassist, Flo Moore that the vocalist embraces with conviction, and a surprisingly elegant 'You Do Something To Me' penned by Paul Weller.
The ubiquitous Jo Harrop gets no less than six songs out of the fifteen heard here, and justifies each and every selection with performances that border on the sublime. With two recent releases on Lateralize Records, Weathering The Storm (2020) with guitarist Jamie McCredie, and last years The Heart Wants, Harrop just seems to get better and better with each new recording. A bold statement may be, but hard to dispute when listening to her contributions to British Standard Time.
Harrop's opening effort both startles and delights in equal measures. In a brave move, Alex Webb transforms U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' by putting the lyric over Miles's 'All Blues'; it perhaps shouldn't work but it does with Ms Harrop's vocal making this a performance to treasure. Indeed, she makes her indelible mark on all her featured tracks, even if the source material does appear to be an obvious choice. She makes quite an impression on John Martyn's 'Man In The Station/Don't Want To Know', and delivers a superb tribute to Amy Winehouse with an impeccable 'Love Is A Losing Game'. If this was not enough, Jo gets to wrap up the album with 'Almost Blue' written by Elvis Costello. Originally written for Chet Baker, she brings the fragility of Baker's vocal to her own reading in what is an incredibly moving performance.
British Standard Time is a standout recording that is a credit to all concerned. Alex Webb for his insight and arrangements, the composers for the original songs upon which all four vocalists are able to able to bring fresh interpretations, and to the band who play faultlessly throughout. Unreservedly recommended.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Lateralize LR013CD
Alex Webb – piano, organ, MD; Jo Harrop, Luca Manning, Tony Momrelle, Carroll Thompson – vocals; Tony Kofi – soprano, alto and baritone sax; Leo Richardson – tenor sax, flute; Andy Davies – trumpet, flugelhorn; Nathaniel Cross – trombone; Ciyo Brown – guitar (tracks 5, 7, 9 and 10); Jamie McCredie – guitar (tracks 11 and 14); Flo Moore – electric and acoustic bass; Sophie Alloway – drums, percussion
Recorded May - June 2021
After spending much of his time and attention on the Great American Songbook, Alex Webb has switched his focus for British Standard Time on music penned on his native shores, and why not indeed. In fact, the resulting album can boast not just some excellent songs, superb musicianship and arrangements but can also rival those of his American counterparts.
Throughout there is a both a lovely mix and variety to the set, each of the four vocalists have a very individual style and sound of their own yet a sense of continuity that Webb's arrangements bring to proceedings. In doing so he has cleverly captured not just the mood of the song but also the personality of the vocalist on each title. All the arrangements feature the whole band that swing with a laid back yet contemporary feel, and is stuffed full of some of the best jazz musicians in the UK. This ensures that the music remains fluid yet supportive of the songs, and also delivers up some excellent solos to boot.
The choice of both songs and the vocalist to perform each, Webb has struck gold. Former Incognito front man, Tony Momrelle, features on two numbers only but makes both count. Opening the album with a superbly swinging 'Give Me The Night' and a relaxed reading of Ray Noble's 'The Very Thought Of You', Momrelle is most engaging showing a real feel for the genre.
Carroll Thompson, widely regarded as the "Queen of Lovers Rock" also shows flare and versatility in her featured numbers with an exuberant 'Lullaby Of Birdland' complete with scat chorus, and a delicate 'Try A Little Tenderness' that tugs at the heartstrings. Webb's arrangements play to her strengths in this setting with a perfect tempo for 'Breakfast For Two', and the wonderful use of guitar and organ for Noel Coward's 'Mad About The Boy'.
Not content with borrowing from the soul and R&B world inhabited by Momrelle and the reggae scene of Carroll Thompson, Alex Webb is keen to plunder not just the jazz repertoire but also that of the pop and rock genre for his material. A chancey undertaking maybe, but with skilful deployment of the superb band assembled and choice of song for the chosen vocalists he has brought together the best of the fertile writing talent that the UK has produced.
I make no secret of my admiration for the work of Luca Manning, who is the most important new vocalist of his generation and the only near rival to the brilliant Ian Shaw, and ensures that he makes the most of his outings here. His jazz chops and subtle swing are given full rein on a suitably secretive version of 'Let's Slip Away' with his phrasing of the lyrics both hushed and compelling in equal measure. Equally compelling are Manning's other features on Rag'n'Bone Man's 'Human' with its strong opening statement from bassist, Flo Moore that the vocalist embraces with conviction, and a surprisingly elegant 'You Do Something To Me' penned by Paul Weller.
The ubiquitous Jo Harrop gets no less than six songs out of the fifteen heard here, and justifies each and every selection with performances that border on the sublime. With two recent releases on Lateralize Records, Weathering The Storm (2020) with guitarist Jamie McCredie, and last years The Heart Wants, Harrop just seems to get better and better with each new recording. A bold statement may be, but hard to dispute when listening to her contributions to British Standard Time.
Harrop's opening effort both startles and delights in equal measures. In a brave move, Alex Webb transforms U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' by putting the lyric over Miles's 'All Blues'; it perhaps shouldn't work but it does with Ms Harrop's vocal making this a performance to treasure. Indeed, she makes her indelible mark on all her featured tracks, even if the source material does appear to be an obvious choice. She makes quite an impression on John Martyn's 'Man In The Station/Don't Want To Know', and delivers a superb tribute to Amy Winehouse with an impeccable 'Love Is A Losing Game'. If this was not enough, Jo gets to wrap up the album with 'Almost Blue' written by Elvis Costello. Originally written for Chet Baker, she brings the fragility of Baker's vocal to her own reading in what is an incredibly moving performance.
British Standard Time is a standout recording that is a credit to all concerned. Alex Webb for his insight and arrangements, the composers for the original songs upon which all four vocalists are able to able to bring fresh interpretations, and to the band who play faultlessly throughout. Unreservedly recommended.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
