TOM CAWLEY
Tom Cawley is established as one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists and has performed worldwide with a huge mix of artists from Jack deJohnette and Gregory Porter to Peter Gabriel and U2. As a bandleader he has toured, recorded and broadcast extensively and his piano trio, Curios, which won Best Band at the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards. Cawley regularly leads the house band at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and is a professor of jazz piano at the Royal Academy of Music.
With the recent release of his latest album, Catenaccio,on the Ubuntu label, we asked Tom to select his all time top ten favourite albums:
With the recent release of his latest album, Catenaccio,on the Ubuntu label, we asked Tom to select his all time top ten favourite albums:
PHINEAS NEWBORN JR. - World of Piano
I first heard this when I was a student in the late ‘90s - Matt Fishwick played it to me and it just opened up this world of complete joy. The abandon and inventiveness with which he plays is something to behold and there is such a joyful energy in the whole thing, as if he’s daring himself to be outrageous. He was the first piano player who completely clicked for me.
BRAD MEHLDAU - Art of the Trio, Vol.4
Similar to A World of Piano, this album was hugely eye-opening for me. I think that this trio changed the way that people played with time and revolutionised phrasing, and all with such lyricism and beauty. They sounded completely free and yet everything was happening with such nuance and in such detail. Mind-blowing back then and still, for me, the bar for piano trio.
I first heard this when I was a student in the late ‘90s - Matt Fishwick played it to me and it just opened up this world of complete joy. The abandon and inventiveness with which he plays is something to behold and there is such a joyful energy in the whole thing, as if he’s daring himself to be outrageous. He was the first piano player who completely clicked for me.
BRAD MEHLDAU - Art of the Trio, Vol.4
Similar to A World of Piano, this album was hugely eye-opening for me. I think that this trio changed the way that people played with time and revolutionised phrasing, and all with such lyricism and beauty. They sounded completely free and yet everything was happening with such nuance and in such detail. Mind-blowing back then and still, for me, the bar for piano trio.
WEATHER REPORT - Heavy Weather
This incredible combination of geniuses and the most idiosyncratic sound! Zawinul, Shorter and Pastorius - all at peak form and all contributing compositions and production - it’s a masterpiece and remains hugely inspirational. Such detail and such beauty throughout, and such variety. Also, though he only played drums on this one record, Alex Acuna has to be my favourite Weather Report drummer.
STEVIE WONDER - Innervisions
I was lucky enough that a tape of this record was in the family car when I was a child, and it’s still my favourite Stevie album. The whole sound of it is wonderful - warm, rough, experimental - the monosynth lines are still the blueprint for me. The songs are amazing - emotional, groovy, beautiful - it’s the outpourings of a genius in full flow.
This incredible combination of geniuses and the most idiosyncratic sound! Zawinul, Shorter and Pastorius - all at peak form and all contributing compositions and production - it’s a masterpiece and remains hugely inspirational. Such detail and such beauty throughout, and such variety. Also, though he only played drums on this one record, Alex Acuna has to be my favourite Weather Report drummer.
STEVIE WONDER - Innervisions
I was lucky enough that a tape of this record was in the family car when I was a child, and it’s still my favourite Stevie album. The whole sound of it is wonderful - warm, rough, experimental - the monosynth lines are still the blueprint for me. The songs are amazing - emotional, groovy, beautiful - it’s the outpourings of a genius in full flow.
JAMES TAYLOR - Walking Man
Another one from my childhood, really, but still my favourite James Taylor album. Quite a low-key overall sound, but so beautiful and warm. His melody writing and approach to harmony have always been a big influence on me and I think this album has a perfect collection of songs and some ingenious moments.
PUNCH BROTHERS - Antifogmatic
This band completely blow my mind. I think that they have to be the most brilliant and dynamic band in the world and their writing is unbelievable. This was the first album which I heard by them in maybe 2011 and I couldn’t a) believe it and b) stop playing it. Such huge attention to detail in the arrangements and performances - it’s as if, compared to them, you’re not even trying. I saw them at the LJF in 2018 and it was perhaps the most stunning concert I’ve ever seen.
Another one from my childhood, really, but still my favourite James Taylor album. Quite a low-key overall sound, but so beautiful and warm. His melody writing and approach to harmony have always been a big influence on me and I think this album has a perfect collection of songs and some ingenious moments.
PUNCH BROTHERS - Antifogmatic
This band completely blow my mind. I think that they have to be the most brilliant and dynamic band in the world and their writing is unbelievable. This was the first album which I heard by them in maybe 2011 and I couldn’t a) believe it and b) stop playing it. Such huge attention to detail in the arrangements and performances - it’s as if, compared to them, you’re not even trying. I saw them at the LJF in 2018 and it was perhaps the most stunning concert I’ve ever seen.
PAUL SIMON - Paul Simon
His first solo album and full of wonderful, individual, quirky, beautiful and unpredictable songs. Some very unconventional writing and the starting point for my life-long love of his music and his craft. One of those albums which takes a little while to get your head around and then suddenly reveals itself to be perfect.
JOE HENDERSON & THE WYNTON KELLY TRIO - Four!
These guys were and probably still are my favourite rhythm section and this is an incredible live album. Joe Henderson sounds utterly mental from start to finish and the trio swings like nothing else. Late-60s Wynton Kelly in full flow - amazing rhythm section work and solos that keep going - idea after idea. I can’t listen to this enough.
His first solo album and full of wonderful, individual, quirky, beautiful and unpredictable songs. Some very unconventional writing and the starting point for my life-long love of his music and his craft. One of those albums which takes a little while to get your head around and then suddenly reveals itself to be perfect.
JOE HENDERSON & THE WYNTON KELLY TRIO - Four!
These guys were and probably still are my favourite rhythm section and this is an incredible live album. Joe Henderson sounds utterly mental from start to finish and the trio swings like nothing else. Late-60s Wynton Kelly in full flow - amazing rhythm section work and solos that keep going - idea after idea. I can’t listen to this enough.
JOHN COLTRANE - Coltrane’s Sound
Another one which I can’t hear enough of - this album bursts with tunes and sheer emotion and energy. All of the idiosyncratic Coltrane things which I love are here - the pedals, the reharms, the tone. The way he finds a note - for example the bridge of 'Liberia' - it’s so intense and so alarming, somehow. The whole album makes me shiver even just to think about. It has everything.
SQUAREPUSHER - Go Plastic
I remember hearing this for the first time and it was a revelation. The through-composedness of it is remarkable. A lot of it is in sort of jazz form and even verges on improvisation, although clearly the music is all made with electronics and (presumably painstakingly) programmed. The sound world is extremely adventurous and it’s just brilliant music - intensely rhythmic and melodic but also humorous.
Another one which I can’t hear enough of - this album bursts with tunes and sheer emotion and energy. All of the idiosyncratic Coltrane things which I love are here - the pedals, the reharms, the tone. The way he finds a note - for example the bridge of 'Liberia' - it’s so intense and so alarming, somehow. The whole album makes me shiver even just to think about. It has everything.
SQUAREPUSHER - Go Plastic
I remember hearing this for the first time and it was a revelation. The through-composedness of it is remarkable. A lot of it is in sort of jazz form and even verges on improvisation, although clearly the music is all made with electronics and (presumably painstakingly) programmed. The sound world is extremely adventurous and it’s just brilliant music - intensely rhythmic and melodic but also humorous.
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Click on the album cover to read our review
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For more information visit Tom's website.
