IAN SHAW - Take Five No: 72
Photograph by Lisa Wormsley
Can you tell us about your new album?
The new album is voice, piano (Jamie Safir) and tenor sax (Iain Ballamy).
It’s a creative meeting of two old cohorts (Ballamy and me) and a super-talented newbie. It’s Chamber style, in that there’s an absence of my usual foundation of bass and drums. With Iain playing, mostly up-front, the tunes of these pop-structure songs (that span almost a century), like Lester Young would do with Billie, my role as the vocalist is very differently signposted than my previous albums as bandleader. The songs kind of chose themselves, over drinks and jokes. American standard turntable hits from Ballamy’s much missed, recently passed, musician dad’s faves cachet jostle with Bacharach/David hits and a fitting tribute to the also recently departed French composer and pianist, Michel LeGrand.
The young pianist, Jamie Safir, gets this shape of things perfectly. He’s at once orchestral, harmonically driving, and soloistic. It’s a very connective and exciting mise-en-scéne for we three, with room for drama, goading and improvisation.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
I’m currently involved in Kurt Elling and Phil Galdston’s large-scale live radio drama, ‘The Big Blind’...alongside a full orchestra (arranged and conducted by Guy Barker) and alongside Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt and other actor/singers, we played this to a New York audience, London saw it at the QEH...and we hope to take it back to Chicago (where it’s set). I play an oily 1950s Englishman in Vegas and Chicago, called Tony ‘Mongoose’ Bonilla. Kurt is a close friend, so this project is more than just fun!
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I’m currently listening to lovely new releases from UK/US band, Phoenecian Blinds (led by Tom Sochas), Julia Biel’s stunning new solo record, ‘Black And White’ (produced Iris Rahman), Emily King’s ‘Sides’ ... and ‘Without Deception’ a newish collaboration from The Dave Holland Trio, with Kenny Barron. Great tune. Peter Curran and Patrick Marber’s ‘Bunkbed’ podcast is my bedtime listening. Warren Wolf’s new vibraphone-led ‘Reincarnation’ is also never far from my ears at the moment.
The new album is voice, piano (Jamie Safir) and tenor sax (Iain Ballamy).
It’s a creative meeting of two old cohorts (Ballamy and me) and a super-talented newbie. It’s Chamber style, in that there’s an absence of my usual foundation of bass and drums. With Iain playing, mostly up-front, the tunes of these pop-structure songs (that span almost a century), like Lester Young would do with Billie, my role as the vocalist is very differently signposted than my previous albums as bandleader. The songs kind of chose themselves, over drinks and jokes. American standard turntable hits from Ballamy’s much missed, recently passed, musician dad’s faves cachet jostle with Bacharach/David hits and a fitting tribute to the also recently departed French composer and pianist, Michel LeGrand.
The young pianist, Jamie Safir, gets this shape of things perfectly. He’s at once orchestral, harmonically driving, and soloistic. It’s a very connective and exciting mise-en-scéne for we three, with room for drama, goading and improvisation.
What other projects are you currently involved in?
I’m currently involved in Kurt Elling and Phil Galdston’s large-scale live radio drama, ‘The Big Blind’...alongside a full orchestra (arranged and conducted by Guy Barker) and alongside Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt and other actor/singers, we played this to a New York audience, London saw it at the QEH...and we hope to take it back to Chicago (where it’s set). I play an oily 1950s Englishman in Vegas and Chicago, called Tony ‘Mongoose’ Bonilla. Kurt is a close friend, so this project is more than just fun!
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I’m currently listening to lovely new releases from UK/US band, Phoenecian Blinds (led by Tom Sochas), Julia Biel’s stunning new solo record, ‘Black And White’ (produced Iris Rahman), Emily King’s ‘Sides’ ... and ‘Without Deception’ a newish collaboration from The Dave Holland Trio, with Kenny Barron. Great tune. Peter Curran and Patrick Marber’s ‘Bunkbed’ podcast is my bedtime listening. Warren Wolf’s new vibraphone-led ‘Reincarnation’ is also never far from my ears at the moment.
Click on the album cover to read our review
What is your all time favourite album and why?
My all-time fave album? That sways in and out of my mood holding bay...Rickie Lee Jones (eponymous debut 1978) … Anita Baker’s ‘Rapture’… Joni’s ‘Hejira’ (1976). Pat Metheny Group’s ‘Letter From Home’ (1989) is my take-off and fly album. It was recorded at New York’s Power Station, where I recorded two albums (it was renamed Avatar) and I was always inspired by the song, ‘Dream Of The Return’ (featuring the immense Pedro Aznar). Always moves me to tears. As does Olivier Messiaen’s Quatuor Pour le Fin du Temps.
Who has caught you attention recently that we should be listening out for?
The twenty-year old Scottish jazz singer, pianist and arranger, Luca Manning, is one to definitely follow. He’s bold, swinging, witty, tender - and brings a brave and beautiful LGBTQ element to an exciting and alluring international genre, not historically bound to this community and its allies. His debut album, ‘When The Sun Comes Out’ is a joy.
Anything involving the soul and swing of saxophonist and bandleader, Leo Richardson, is always an event - live or recorded.
Singer, Cherise (who I worked alongside in ‘TSinger, Cherise (who I worked alongside in ‘The Big Blind’), is ready to bloom too, with her EP, ‘Paradise'.
My all-time fave album? That sways in and out of my mood holding bay...Rickie Lee Jones (eponymous debut 1978) … Anita Baker’s ‘Rapture’… Joni’s ‘Hejira’ (1976). Pat Metheny Group’s ‘Letter From Home’ (1989) is my take-off and fly album. It was recorded at New York’s Power Station, where I recorded two albums (it was renamed Avatar) and I was always inspired by the song, ‘Dream Of The Return’ (featuring the immense Pedro Aznar). Always moves me to tears. As does Olivier Messiaen’s Quatuor Pour le Fin du Temps.
Who has caught you attention recently that we should be listening out for?
The twenty-year old Scottish jazz singer, pianist and arranger, Luca Manning, is one to definitely follow. He’s bold, swinging, witty, tender - and brings a brave and beautiful LGBTQ element to an exciting and alluring international genre, not historically bound to this community and its allies. His debut album, ‘When The Sun Comes Out’ is a joy.
Anything involving the soul and swing of saxophonist and bandleader, Leo Richardson, is always an event - live or recorded.
Singer, Cherise (who I worked alongside in ‘TSinger, Cherise (who I worked alongside in ‘The Big Blind’), is ready to bloom too, with her EP, ‘Paradise'.
