IVO NEAME - Strata
Whirlwind Records WR 4674
Ivo Neame (pno, keys, accordion) Tori Freestone ( tnr, flt) Jim Hart (vbs) Tom Farmer (bs) Andrea Di Base (bs) Dave Hamblett (drs)
Recorded 21st/22 July 2014
Although appearing on over twenty albums with the likes of Phronesis, The Kairos Quintet and wild man of the saxophone Marius Neset this is only the third release as a leader for the exciting and original pianist Ivo Neame. A product of The Sheppard Neame Brewing Family and The Royal Acadamy Of Music he is fast becoming one of the most significant players in the new wave of British Jazz.
The leader and composer throughout goes to some lengths on the album sleeve to point out the the two year process of composing the themes and the perfecting their interpretation via the highly talented musicians he has gathered around him.
The entire album is a heady hypnotic mix of complex ideas, sometimes resolved but often not, always leaving the listener wanting more.
The high tempo opening number "Personality Clash" takes several directions and includes a wonderous piano solo supported by busy bass and drums and is a promising prelude to one of the album,s highlights, the title track "Strata".
Here Tori Freestone proves, if proof were needed, that she has come of age as one of the leading tenor players to have emerged in this country for some years. Her playing has always been full of countless cliche free ideas ( Her previous playing on "Yatra" by this group and her own first release "In The Chop House" underline this.) She has now added a power and a Coltrane like majesty that has taken her to new heights. This brilliantly written slow burner is an ideal vehicle for her talents.
The extended blues composition "Old Blues" utilises the accordion and unusually understated vibes of Jim Hart to add colour, but rather meanders to a close not fully resolved. The following piece is almost pastoral in it's outlook with searching conversations between piano and tenor and basks the the unusual title "Miss Piggy".
The concise "Crise De Nerfs" is an upbeat platform for the flute, over complex rythems from vibes and drums, plus a further probing solo from the leader. The front line drops out for "Eastern Chant" with all three members of the trio doing justice to a superb composition with Dave Hamblett's drum,s echoing the style of the great Tony Williams.
The final two offerings maintain the diversity of mood and depth of writing skill. "Folk Song" unsurprisingly brings the accordian to the fore again to set the mood alongside the vibes which combine in an almost refined jolity before another masterly tenor solo restores order. The closer "Snowfall" is a highly dramatic and descriptive theme where once again an almost telepathic understanding is evident between all members.
The famous American critic Whitney Balliett once described Jazz as "The Sound Of Suprise" and that,s what we have here. You never know where any of these tunes are going, only that it will always be a good place
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Whirlwind Records WR 4674
Ivo Neame (pno, keys, accordion) Tori Freestone ( tnr, flt) Jim Hart (vbs) Tom Farmer (bs) Andrea Di Base (bs) Dave Hamblett (drs)
Recorded 21st/22 July 2014
Although appearing on over twenty albums with the likes of Phronesis, The Kairos Quintet and wild man of the saxophone Marius Neset this is only the third release as a leader for the exciting and original pianist Ivo Neame. A product of The Sheppard Neame Brewing Family and The Royal Acadamy Of Music he is fast becoming one of the most significant players in the new wave of British Jazz.
The leader and composer throughout goes to some lengths on the album sleeve to point out the the two year process of composing the themes and the perfecting their interpretation via the highly talented musicians he has gathered around him.
The entire album is a heady hypnotic mix of complex ideas, sometimes resolved but often not, always leaving the listener wanting more.
The high tempo opening number "Personality Clash" takes several directions and includes a wonderous piano solo supported by busy bass and drums and is a promising prelude to one of the album,s highlights, the title track "Strata".
Here Tori Freestone proves, if proof were needed, that she has come of age as one of the leading tenor players to have emerged in this country for some years. Her playing has always been full of countless cliche free ideas ( Her previous playing on "Yatra" by this group and her own first release "In The Chop House" underline this.) She has now added a power and a Coltrane like majesty that has taken her to new heights. This brilliantly written slow burner is an ideal vehicle for her talents.
The extended blues composition "Old Blues" utilises the accordion and unusually understated vibes of Jim Hart to add colour, but rather meanders to a close not fully resolved. The following piece is almost pastoral in it's outlook with searching conversations between piano and tenor and basks the the unusual title "Miss Piggy".
The concise "Crise De Nerfs" is an upbeat platform for the flute, over complex rythems from vibes and drums, plus a further probing solo from the leader. The front line drops out for "Eastern Chant" with all three members of the trio doing justice to a superb composition with Dave Hamblett's drum,s echoing the style of the great Tony Williams.
The final two offerings maintain the diversity of mood and depth of writing skill. "Folk Song" unsurprisingly brings the accordian to the fore again to set the mood alongside the vibes which combine in an almost refined jolity before another masterly tenor solo restores order. The closer "Snowfall" is a highly dramatic and descriptive theme where once again an almost telepathic understanding is evident between all members.
The famous American critic Whitney Balliett once described Jazz as "The Sound Of Suprise" and that,s what we have here. You never know where any of these tunes are going, only that it will always be a good place
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
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