KENDON / RYALL SEXTET - There Will Be Time
BeeBoss Records
(available from Bandcamp)
Jack Kendon (trumpet, flugelhorn); Imogen Ryall (voice); Al Scott (piano); Nigel Thomas (double bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums)
plus Juian Nicholas (tenor saxophone)
Recorded 3rd, 4th & 6th November, 2016
This album sets out its stall with aplomb by kicking off with a creative interpretation by bandleader/trumpeter Kendon of the old chestnut ‘Night And Day” - Ryall’s clear, unaffected tones dancing over Pete Hill and Nigel Thomas’ punchy rhythm track that moves easily between 3, 6 and 4 beat measures, with each of the soloists contributing brief but dazzling comments. There’s a nice balance of improvisation and careful arrangement in evidence throughout. Kendon and Nicholas blend together in some superhip charts on ‘There Will Be Time’: Ryall breaks out some airy scat on the effortlessly swinging arrangement of Larry Golding’s ‘Mixed Message’ that allows space for succinctly creative statements from bass and drums: Carla Bely’s’Lawns’ has new lyrics by Ryall, with pianist Scott tempering his Bill Evans chops with some laid back Fender Rhodes for a cool Steely Dan flavour, and a melting tenor solo from Nicholas. The quality of the arrangements really allows the band’s strong individual voices to shine on a well chosen programme of covers and originals by Kendon (the title track) and Nicholas (One January Morning), with Scott’s ‘Insomnia’ a particularly strong contribution that gives Kendon space for a gorgeously brassy, Tom Harrell-ish flugelhorn statement. There’s a restraint and economy to the playing that allows Ryall’s hip, crisp articulation and precise pitching to take centre stage and gives the album a direct, focussed quality that’s often missing from jazz vocal albums: singer and band are evenly balanced, and the quality of playing throughout is quietly excellent. Proceedings conclude with a swinging rendition of Bobby Wellin’s ‘C U B C’ with Kendon busting out some lovely bebop and bravura solos from Nicholas and Thomas. Recommended.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
BeeBoss Records
(available from Bandcamp)
Jack Kendon (trumpet, flugelhorn); Imogen Ryall (voice); Al Scott (piano); Nigel Thomas (double bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums)
plus Juian Nicholas (tenor saxophone)
Recorded 3rd, 4th & 6th November, 2016
This album sets out its stall with aplomb by kicking off with a creative interpretation by bandleader/trumpeter Kendon of the old chestnut ‘Night And Day” - Ryall’s clear, unaffected tones dancing over Pete Hill and Nigel Thomas’ punchy rhythm track that moves easily between 3, 6 and 4 beat measures, with each of the soloists contributing brief but dazzling comments. There’s a nice balance of improvisation and careful arrangement in evidence throughout. Kendon and Nicholas blend together in some superhip charts on ‘There Will Be Time’: Ryall breaks out some airy scat on the effortlessly swinging arrangement of Larry Golding’s ‘Mixed Message’ that allows space for succinctly creative statements from bass and drums: Carla Bely’s’Lawns’ has new lyrics by Ryall, with pianist Scott tempering his Bill Evans chops with some laid back Fender Rhodes for a cool Steely Dan flavour, and a melting tenor solo from Nicholas. The quality of the arrangements really allows the band’s strong individual voices to shine on a well chosen programme of covers and originals by Kendon (the title track) and Nicholas (One January Morning), with Scott’s ‘Insomnia’ a particularly strong contribution that gives Kendon space for a gorgeously brassy, Tom Harrell-ish flugelhorn statement. There’s a restraint and economy to the playing that allows Ryall’s hip, crisp articulation and precise pitching to take centre stage and gives the album a direct, focussed quality that’s often missing from jazz vocal albums: singer and band are evenly balanced, and the quality of playing throughout is quietly excellent. Proceedings conclude with a swinging rendition of Bobby Wellin’s ‘C U B C’ with Kendon busting out some lovely bebop and bravura solos from Nicholas and Thomas. Recommended.
Reviewed by Eddie Myer
