ALYN COSKER - KPF
Nyla Recordings NYLA01CD
Alyn Cosker (drums, piano, shakers); Steve Hamilton (keyboards & piano); Marcio Doctor (percussion); Davie Dunsmuir (electric guitar); Colin Cunningham (electric bass); Fraser Anderson (vocals on 11); Adam Bailey (mandolin on 1); Jim Cosker (piano on 7); Laurence Cottle (bass on 1 & 3); Fiona Hamilton (fiddle on 1); Kirsty Johnson (accordian on 1); Rachel Lightbody (vocals on 3); Joe Locke (vives on 4); Chas Mackenzie (acoustic guitar on 7); Eddi Reader (vocals on 7); Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone on 3 & 10); Paul Towndrow (alto saxophone on 1)
Alyn Cosker has secured himself a world wide reputation as a first choice drummer for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra playing on no less than eight of the SNJO's superb albums. He is also frequently to be heard behind the kit in various groups led by fellow Scots, Tommy Smith, Ryan Quigley, Colin Steele and Paul Towndrow, and has gigged and recorded with US vocalist, Kurt Elling. In addition to his activities in the field of jazz, Cosker likes to stretch his wings and his musical tastes and passion for diversity have found him delving into other genres working with Capercaille, Michael Mcgoldrick, Karen Matheson, Wolfstone, Eddi Reader, Maeve Mackinnon, Duncan Lyall, Angus Lyon, Hue And Cry among others.
In such a busy scheduling it is therefore surprising, albeit a most welcome one, that he has the time and energy to record under his own name. Indeed it is some nine years since the drummer released his debut album on Linn Records, Lyn's Une, and for this new album (released on his own Nyla Recordings) he retains the services of Steve Hamilton on keyboards and guitarist Davie Dunsmuir.
The wait has certainly been worth it, with a well chosen and paced set that finds the core group joined throughout by a veritable who's who on the current jazz scene and beyond. Cosker neatly avoids the pitfalls in such a project, so many such albums come off as a an exercise in this is what I can do and try to cram everything learned in a lifetime into a single set, in a recording that is as captivating as it is diverse, by keeping the writing grounded by a specified group sound with Hamilton, Dunsmuir and bassist Colin Cunningham and introducing material to feature additional musicians that enhance and elaborate on this sound palette.
The quartet that now make up the Alyn Cosker Group (and currently touring material from the album) are heard in the superb numbers 'Yatey Ate', 'Hee Haw Twice' and the rhythmically driven 'The Adventures of Feskelar' that lay the foundations of Cosker's overall vision for the rest of the music heard. The strength of the other material is how the guests find their way into this concept with the drummer writing scores that do not place them in their familiar context, but writes in such a way that they are able to bring their sound to his vision of the music without compromise to either.
Just check out the the opener, 'Serenity' with altoist Paul Towndrow, or 'Dragons' that features the wonderful voices of Rachel Lightbody and Tommy Smith; and the wonderful Eddi Reader almost steals the show with Alyn's beautiful composition 'We Were Young'. The pace is once again upped a gear or two for 'Shoogly Paw' is a finger busting piece with a superb solos from both Davie Dunsmuir and Tommy Smith.
This is a fine album that is perhaps a little outside my normal listening spectrum, but one that I find myself returning to repeatedly. The sheer joy of music making is apparent throughout, and Cosker's writing has a host of catchy melodies and rhythmic hooks that retain the attention and keeps the listener engaged and eager to return for a repeat hearing.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Nyla Recordings NYLA01CD
Alyn Cosker (drums, piano, shakers); Steve Hamilton (keyboards & piano); Marcio Doctor (percussion); Davie Dunsmuir (electric guitar); Colin Cunningham (electric bass); Fraser Anderson (vocals on 11); Adam Bailey (mandolin on 1); Jim Cosker (piano on 7); Laurence Cottle (bass on 1 & 3); Fiona Hamilton (fiddle on 1); Kirsty Johnson (accordian on 1); Rachel Lightbody (vocals on 3); Joe Locke (vives on 4); Chas Mackenzie (acoustic guitar on 7); Eddi Reader (vocals on 7); Tommy Smith (tenor saxophone on 3 & 10); Paul Towndrow (alto saxophone on 1)
Alyn Cosker has secured himself a world wide reputation as a first choice drummer for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra playing on no less than eight of the SNJO's superb albums. He is also frequently to be heard behind the kit in various groups led by fellow Scots, Tommy Smith, Ryan Quigley, Colin Steele and Paul Towndrow, and has gigged and recorded with US vocalist, Kurt Elling. In addition to his activities in the field of jazz, Cosker likes to stretch his wings and his musical tastes and passion for diversity have found him delving into other genres working with Capercaille, Michael Mcgoldrick, Karen Matheson, Wolfstone, Eddi Reader, Maeve Mackinnon, Duncan Lyall, Angus Lyon, Hue And Cry among others.
In such a busy scheduling it is therefore surprising, albeit a most welcome one, that he has the time and energy to record under his own name. Indeed it is some nine years since the drummer released his debut album on Linn Records, Lyn's Une, and for this new album (released on his own Nyla Recordings) he retains the services of Steve Hamilton on keyboards and guitarist Davie Dunsmuir.
The wait has certainly been worth it, with a well chosen and paced set that finds the core group joined throughout by a veritable who's who on the current jazz scene and beyond. Cosker neatly avoids the pitfalls in such a project, so many such albums come off as a an exercise in this is what I can do and try to cram everything learned in a lifetime into a single set, in a recording that is as captivating as it is diverse, by keeping the writing grounded by a specified group sound with Hamilton, Dunsmuir and bassist Colin Cunningham and introducing material to feature additional musicians that enhance and elaborate on this sound palette.
The quartet that now make up the Alyn Cosker Group (and currently touring material from the album) are heard in the superb numbers 'Yatey Ate', 'Hee Haw Twice' and the rhythmically driven 'The Adventures of Feskelar' that lay the foundations of Cosker's overall vision for the rest of the music heard. The strength of the other material is how the guests find their way into this concept with the drummer writing scores that do not place them in their familiar context, but writes in such a way that they are able to bring their sound to his vision of the music without compromise to either.
Just check out the the opener, 'Serenity' with altoist Paul Towndrow, or 'Dragons' that features the wonderful voices of Rachel Lightbody and Tommy Smith; and the wonderful Eddi Reader almost steals the show with Alyn's beautiful composition 'We Were Young'. The pace is once again upped a gear or two for 'Shoogly Paw' is a finger busting piece with a superb solos from both Davie Dunsmuir and Tommy Smith.
This is a fine album that is perhaps a little outside my normal listening spectrum, but one that I find myself returning to repeatedly. The sheer joy of music making is apparent throughout, and Cosker's writing has a host of catchy melodies and rhythmic hooks that retain the attention and keeps the listener engaged and eager to return for a repeat hearing.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
