DANIEL YUAN YAO / SAM MILES / CHRIS McMURRAN / FREDDIE JENSEN - Double Life
Self release
Sam Miles (tenor saxophone); Chris McMurran (piano); Freddie Jensen (bass); Daniel Yuan Yao (drums)
Having formed in 2018 this is a relatively young band, both in terms of the ages of the the musicians and the time that they have been together as a unit. All the four have studied formally, but they is very little about this impressive debut that is dusty or academic in any way. If anything, the music is very firmly from the school of jazz, with the band and the material played taking everything that is good from the history of the music and delivering it with a passion and conviction that makes for an enjoyable and stimulating listen.
Saxophonist, Sam Miles, plays with a big warm toned tenor sound as heard on the opening 'Bran' that has a gentle groove that perfectly suits the tenorist's laid back approach to a solo
that builds in intensity through effective use of the upper register. This device is also employed on 'Bhaskara's Wheel' that has another fine solo from Miles, and a sterling contribution from pianist, Chris McMurran.
'I'll Be Seeing You' again has some lovely relaxed playing from the young tenor man, and the quartet demonstrate that they clearly have a way with a good tune when it is presented to them. Bassist, Freddie Jensen, also excels with a fine solo and McMurran again gets in a graceful solo that swings at a suitably lazy tempo. The pianist also get his moment to shine on 'Eurydice', a lovely ballad performance which is sensitively handled by the quartet and also on 'Don't Count Stars' where McMurran's playing in infected with a lyricism and innocent sense of fun that recalls Chick Corea.
The band flex their collective muscles on 'Posthaste' that has an appropriate sense of urgency. Propelled along by drummer, Daniel Yuan Yao, the saxophonist refuses to be hurried, and plays out another impressive solo with a nicely balanced sense of control and restraint. This is also reflected in the playing of the pianist, whose solo is spritely and neatly accompanied by the drummer.
As if to come back round in a full circle, the set concludes with a delightful reading of 'My Foolish Heart' from a young band that know where they come from, and how they can develop their craft collectively. This is a fine contemporary album that makes a lasting impression not because it is pushing at the boundaries, but because these musicians are finding plenty to say within a well defined vocabulary, and in doing so once again demonstrate that a good song in expert hands can always deliver up fresh and invigorating music.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Self release
Sam Miles (tenor saxophone); Chris McMurran (piano); Freddie Jensen (bass); Daniel Yuan Yao (drums)
Having formed in 2018 this is a relatively young band, both in terms of the ages of the the musicians and the time that they have been together as a unit. All the four have studied formally, but they is very little about this impressive debut that is dusty or academic in any way. If anything, the music is very firmly from the school of jazz, with the band and the material played taking everything that is good from the history of the music and delivering it with a passion and conviction that makes for an enjoyable and stimulating listen.
Saxophonist, Sam Miles, plays with a big warm toned tenor sound as heard on the opening 'Bran' that has a gentle groove that perfectly suits the tenorist's laid back approach to a solo
that builds in intensity through effective use of the upper register. This device is also employed on 'Bhaskara's Wheel' that has another fine solo from Miles, and a sterling contribution from pianist, Chris McMurran.
'I'll Be Seeing You' again has some lovely relaxed playing from the young tenor man, and the quartet demonstrate that they clearly have a way with a good tune when it is presented to them. Bassist, Freddie Jensen, also excels with a fine solo and McMurran again gets in a graceful solo that swings at a suitably lazy tempo. The pianist also get his moment to shine on 'Eurydice', a lovely ballad performance which is sensitively handled by the quartet and also on 'Don't Count Stars' where McMurran's playing in infected with a lyricism and innocent sense of fun that recalls Chick Corea.
The band flex their collective muscles on 'Posthaste' that has an appropriate sense of urgency. Propelled along by drummer, Daniel Yuan Yao, the saxophonist refuses to be hurried, and plays out another impressive solo with a nicely balanced sense of control and restraint. This is also reflected in the playing of the pianist, whose solo is spritely and neatly accompanied by the drummer.
As if to come back round in a full circle, the set concludes with a delightful reading of 'My Foolish Heart' from a young band that know where they come from, and how they can develop their craft collectively. This is a fine contemporary album that makes a lasting impression not because it is pushing at the boundaries, but because these musicians are finding plenty to say within a well defined vocabulary, and in doing so once again demonstrate that a good song in expert hands can always deliver up fresh and invigorating music.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
