DAVE JONES QUARTET - Is That The Time?
DJT 010
Dave Jones (Piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesiser); Ben Waghorn (soprano and tenor sax, flute); Ashley John Long (acoustic and electric bass); Andy Hague (drums)
‘Is That The Time’ follows the quartet’s critically acclaimed ‘Answers on a Postcard’ EP and is Jones's 10th jazz release, his first being in 1996 ( Have You Met Mr Jones?). 'Answers On A Postcard' was a trad-leaning CD with a good deal of swing and this is of the same class but with a change in musical direction. The quartet's cohesion, established at many gigs and also on the previous recording, has lost nothing of its class but on this EP, they offer a slightly different direction, demonstrating their ability to straddle more than one jazz sub-genre.
'Dedication' (Doctone) is a polyrhythmic tribute to pianist Kenny Kirkland. It opens with a huge salvo and then develops several melodic lines over which Waghorn's sax soars. The ensemble is tight and the pulling back on the tempo on the 6ths makes it feel like the piece pushes forward on the 10 note melody line. An extended bass solo leads into a piano-led section before the sax returns - this time with more improvisation around the melody line and a development of more intricacy in the lines, more complexity, a striking balance of light and shade, enhanced not in small measure by the changing volume of the keys and there is an energy which is pervasive.
'Dai's Bossa' is flute-led initially over a Latin rhythm. The piano supports all the way through and emerges as a solo instrument , delivering intricate and melodic lines, under which the bass supports before it too emerges with a solo of its own. In this track there is that wonderful sense of flow which established musicians who connect develop. The music holds colours which are lighter, darker and swapped between the players, they give, they take back, add their own hues and share. The bass solo is complex and strongly delivered. The flute returns towards the final phrases to neatly complete the piece.
'No Parking' has a change of rhythm and tempo, introduced by piano and bass, over which the tenor introduces the strong theme. This is stylistic, communicative playing with interaction between the ensemble paramount. A jazz fusion based number with some interesting and changing musical landscapes.
The Dave Jones Quartet line-up for this EP is Ben Waghorn ( NYJO, Tommy Chase, Slowly Rolling Camera and Keith Tippett, Goldfrapp, Kasabian and Portishead ) on saxes and flutes, Ashley John Long ( John Law, Brandon Allen, Geoff Eales, Alan Barnes, and Scott Hamilton London Philharmonic Orchestra) on bass Andy Hague (Porrtishead and Be-Bop Club in Bristol regular) on drums and pianist Dave Jones (international recordings in the US, India, France, Ireland, and the UK, TV, film compositions including ‘The Big Bang Theory’, the US Open Golf Tournament, ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’, and the Mexican drama ‘Las Aparicio’) so expectations are high. This EP is quality jazz-fusion, delivered by a group with experience and an ability to communicate.
This quartet bring a sense of intimacy, close-knit understanding and communication and the music is engaging and delivered with style.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
DJT 010
Dave Jones (Piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesiser); Ben Waghorn (soprano and tenor sax, flute); Ashley John Long (acoustic and electric bass); Andy Hague (drums)
‘Is That The Time’ follows the quartet’s critically acclaimed ‘Answers on a Postcard’ EP and is Jones's 10th jazz release, his first being in 1996 ( Have You Met Mr Jones?). 'Answers On A Postcard' was a trad-leaning CD with a good deal of swing and this is of the same class but with a change in musical direction. The quartet's cohesion, established at many gigs and also on the previous recording, has lost nothing of its class but on this EP, they offer a slightly different direction, demonstrating their ability to straddle more than one jazz sub-genre.
'Dedication' (Doctone) is a polyrhythmic tribute to pianist Kenny Kirkland. It opens with a huge salvo and then develops several melodic lines over which Waghorn's sax soars. The ensemble is tight and the pulling back on the tempo on the 6ths makes it feel like the piece pushes forward on the 10 note melody line. An extended bass solo leads into a piano-led section before the sax returns - this time with more improvisation around the melody line and a development of more intricacy in the lines, more complexity, a striking balance of light and shade, enhanced not in small measure by the changing volume of the keys and there is an energy which is pervasive.
'Dai's Bossa' is flute-led initially over a Latin rhythm. The piano supports all the way through and emerges as a solo instrument , delivering intricate and melodic lines, under which the bass supports before it too emerges with a solo of its own. In this track there is that wonderful sense of flow which established musicians who connect develop. The music holds colours which are lighter, darker and swapped between the players, they give, they take back, add their own hues and share. The bass solo is complex and strongly delivered. The flute returns towards the final phrases to neatly complete the piece.
'No Parking' has a change of rhythm and tempo, introduced by piano and bass, over which the tenor introduces the strong theme. This is stylistic, communicative playing with interaction between the ensemble paramount. A jazz fusion based number with some interesting and changing musical landscapes.
The Dave Jones Quartet line-up for this EP is Ben Waghorn ( NYJO, Tommy Chase, Slowly Rolling Camera and Keith Tippett, Goldfrapp, Kasabian and Portishead ) on saxes and flutes, Ashley John Long ( John Law, Brandon Allen, Geoff Eales, Alan Barnes, and Scott Hamilton London Philharmonic Orchestra) on bass Andy Hague (Porrtishead and Be-Bop Club in Bristol regular) on drums and pianist Dave Jones (international recordings in the US, India, France, Ireland, and the UK, TV, film compositions including ‘The Big Bang Theory’, the US Open Golf Tournament, ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’, and the Mexican drama ‘Las Aparicio’) so expectations are high. This EP is quality jazz-fusion, delivered by a group with experience and an ability to communicate.
This quartet bring a sense of intimacy, close-knit understanding and communication and the music is engaging and delivered with style.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
