NICK WELDON - Eleven Flames
Verge 007CD
Art Themen (tenor & soprano saxophones); Laura Jurd (trumpet); Andra Sparks (voice); Nikki Iles (piano); Nick Weldon (bass); Trevor Tomkins (drums)
No recording dates given
In my mind Nick Weldon is indelibly linked to being a first rate jazz pianist and was a familiar face in the bands of drummer, Tommy Chase and saxophonists Don Weller, Bobby Wellins and Martin Speake. He was also to be found leading his own trio where his deeply swinging solos were a constant delight. Now we have a new album , with a new sextet, and the leader playing double bass; and a fine job he makes of it too! The sextet assembled is a stellar group that features musicians from three generations and a front line that boasts veteran saxophonist, Art Themen and the youthful trumpet of Laura Jurd. With a rhythm section that comprises the leader's double bass with Trevor Tomkins on drums and the wonderful Nikki Iles on piano all the ingredients are present for something special, and the resulting music does not disappoint.
As one would expect the music strikes a nice balance between original compositions and standards that more often than not are delivered with a twist, and all in a style that is very much of the moment. There is nothing that is hackneyed or stale, just excellent contemporary jazz that is quite content to look back as well as forwards. If the occasional backwards glance is your thing then 'Baby, Don't Quit Now' and 'Weaver Of Dreams' are right up your street. Andra Sparks handles the lyrics perfectly and with respect and just a hint of attitude. 'Weaver' is particularly effective as Andra's lovely vocals are followed by a tremendous solo from Laura Jurd, and she is just as authoritative on 'Justice Song', Weldon's take on the Thelonious Monk composition 'Evidence' and the pop song 'Just You, Just Me'.
Monk is a again given prominence again with 'How I Wish/Ask Me Now' (Monk's tune, retitled with Jon Hendrick's lyric), and features some superb tenor playing from Art Themen supported by the impeccable accompaniment of Nikki Iles. This empathy between saxophonist and pianist is also very much in evidence on the gently swinging arrangement of 'It's Crazy' with another fine outing from Themen with his big furry tenor sound given its full expressive reign.
The pleasure that is to be found in this engaging set is that there are delightful twists and turns that reveal themselves with repeated listening, such as the beautiful 'One Kiss' written by Weldon and featuring an exemplary trio of piano, trumpet and voice that is sheer perfection; or Weldon's solo introduction to Pat Metheny's 'Question & Answer' which is reworked with the leader's lyric as 'Where You Are'. Just when you have figured where you are, the sextet change expectations with a middle section that stirs things up with a blistering soprano solo from Art Themen that is along way from Weldon's opening statement.
First rate modern jazz that shows that there is still much mileage in the standard repertoire, that in the right hands delivers contemporary music that pushes at the boundaries of the idiom without ever losing sight of its roots.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Verge 007CD
Art Themen (tenor & soprano saxophones); Laura Jurd (trumpet); Andra Sparks (voice); Nikki Iles (piano); Nick Weldon (bass); Trevor Tomkins (drums)
No recording dates given
In my mind Nick Weldon is indelibly linked to being a first rate jazz pianist and was a familiar face in the bands of drummer, Tommy Chase and saxophonists Don Weller, Bobby Wellins and Martin Speake. He was also to be found leading his own trio where his deeply swinging solos were a constant delight. Now we have a new album , with a new sextet, and the leader playing double bass; and a fine job he makes of it too! The sextet assembled is a stellar group that features musicians from three generations and a front line that boasts veteran saxophonist, Art Themen and the youthful trumpet of Laura Jurd. With a rhythm section that comprises the leader's double bass with Trevor Tomkins on drums and the wonderful Nikki Iles on piano all the ingredients are present for something special, and the resulting music does not disappoint.
As one would expect the music strikes a nice balance between original compositions and standards that more often than not are delivered with a twist, and all in a style that is very much of the moment. There is nothing that is hackneyed or stale, just excellent contemporary jazz that is quite content to look back as well as forwards. If the occasional backwards glance is your thing then 'Baby, Don't Quit Now' and 'Weaver Of Dreams' are right up your street. Andra Sparks handles the lyrics perfectly and with respect and just a hint of attitude. 'Weaver' is particularly effective as Andra's lovely vocals are followed by a tremendous solo from Laura Jurd, and she is just as authoritative on 'Justice Song', Weldon's take on the Thelonious Monk composition 'Evidence' and the pop song 'Just You, Just Me'.
Monk is a again given prominence again with 'How I Wish/Ask Me Now' (Monk's tune, retitled with Jon Hendrick's lyric), and features some superb tenor playing from Art Themen supported by the impeccable accompaniment of Nikki Iles. This empathy between saxophonist and pianist is also very much in evidence on the gently swinging arrangement of 'It's Crazy' with another fine outing from Themen with his big furry tenor sound given its full expressive reign.
The pleasure that is to be found in this engaging set is that there are delightful twists and turns that reveal themselves with repeated listening, such as the beautiful 'One Kiss' written by Weldon and featuring an exemplary trio of piano, trumpet and voice that is sheer perfection; or Weldon's solo introduction to Pat Metheny's 'Question & Answer' which is reworked with the leader's lyric as 'Where You Are'. Just when you have figured where you are, the sextet change expectations with a middle section that stirs things up with a blistering soprano solo from Art Themen that is along way from Weldon's opening statement.
First rate modern jazz that shows that there is still much mileage in the standard repertoire, that in the right hands delivers contemporary music that pushes at the boundaries of the idiom without ever losing sight of its roots.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
