DAVE STOREY TRIO - Trio - Jouska
Impossible Ark Records - IALP 026
James Allsopp - Saxophone; Conor Chaplin - Double Bass; Dave Storey Drums
This is the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Bosco’ and is a glorious continuation of the formula. The first track ‘Green Monkey’ presents an unashamed exploration of that jazz cornerstone, the ‘I Got Rhythm’ changes, with total panache: Allsopp’s sax has the kind of contemporary flow and precision we’d expect but his language is nicely pitched to be boppish without being cliched and intricate without sacrificing melody - there are hints of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh in his fluid and even delivery but with an extra bite, and Storey and Chaplin groove along responsively behind, the trio in perfect balance.
Chaplin steps up to deliver some impressive (and expressive) solos, on Storey’s original waltz-time ‘Bibi’ in particular, and holds down the harmony with some crisply executed double stops under the Coltrane-meets-Songbook style melody of ‘Forest Far From Home’ : the leader also contributes the reflective latin flavoured ‘Con Dao’ and the title track ‘Jouska’, which has a Hendersonian swing and bluesy darkness, as does Allsopp’s ‘Gravel Baron’. There’s a ton of great playing which never overburdens the compositions and the band show the positive effect of a year on the road together in their empathetic conversations: the open-ness of the trio format enables them to pay tribute to their influences without ever being overwhelmed by them.
Allsopp really shines on his own compositions - the theme of ‘Wooden Hats’ manages to mash together elements of Ornette Coleman and Eddie Harris’ towers of 4th intervals to come up with something very distinctive - and while everyone wears their hearts on their sleeves regarding their favourite influences there’s no feeling of familiarity or cliche, just some really swinging, genuinely enthusiastic and very technically capable performances. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
Impossible Ark Records - IALP 026
James Allsopp - Saxophone; Conor Chaplin - Double Bass; Dave Storey Drums
This is the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Bosco’ and is a glorious continuation of the formula. The first track ‘Green Monkey’ presents an unashamed exploration of that jazz cornerstone, the ‘I Got Rhythm’ changes, with total panache: Allsopp’s sax has the kind of contemporary flow and precision we’d expect but his language is nicely pitched to be boppish without being cliched and intricate without sacrificing melody - there are hints of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh in his fluid and even delivery but with an extra bite, and Storey and Chaplin groove along responsively behind, the trio in perfect balance.
Chaplin steps up to deliver some impressive (and expressive) solos, on Storey’s original waltz-time ‘Bibi’ in particular, and holds down the harmony with some crisply executed double stops under the Coltrane-meets-Songbook style melody of ‘Forest Far From Home’ : the leader also contributes the reflective latin flavoured ‘Con Dao’ and the title track ‘Jouska’, which has a Hendersonian swing and bluesy darkness, as does Allsopp’s ‘Gravel Baron’. There’s a ton of great playing which never overburdens the compositions and the band show the positive effect of a year on the road together in their empathetic conversations: the open-ness of the trio format enables them to pay tribute to their influences without ever being overwhelmed by them.
Allsopp really shines on his own compositions - the theme of ‘Wooden Hats’ manages to mash together elements of Ornette Coleman and Eddie Harris’ towers of 4th intervals to come up with something very distinctive - and while everyone wears their hearts on their sleeves regarding their favourite influences there’s no feeling of familiarity or cliche, just some really swinging, genuinely enthusiastic and very technically capable performances. Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
