CD reviews: 16-03-09
Gareth Williams Power Trio: Shock (Linn)
The Welsh pianist is not what you would call the shy and retiring type. I remember many years ago at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival seeing him cheering the John Scofield Band from the floor of Cheltenham Town Hall with a gusto that showed either overwhelming enthusiasm or that he had been celebrating the success of his own festival performance earlier in the day – I could never quite decide which.
The title of this band and that of the album are not obviously reflected in the first couple of tracks – they find Williams unexpectedly at the electric keyboard, and are fairly laid back, with lovely singing electric bass from Laurence Cottle and funky grooves from Ian Thomas on drums.
It’s the conventional Joanna for the only non-original, a rich and hard-swinging Giant Steps, though, with the band squeezing down on the gas and starting to live up to their nomenclature.
It’s followed by a heartfelt ballad and the full scope of the album becomes apparent – far from following a concentrated emotional or stylistic path, Williams and crew are keen to range far and wide. That they do so while maintaining a cohesive group character is testament to their close ties and clear joy in music-making.
Played on repeat those first tracks make more sense, too, with the whole thing not just a listen for special occasions but the kind of disc you can spend a lot of time with.
Expect some cheering from the floor when they do it live later this year.
Melody Gardot: My One And Only Thrill (UCJ)
Lush strings and a gently plucked acoustic guitar frame the entrance of the singer/songwriter’s warmly-relaxed voice.
I realise the words no reviewer should utter in this context are Jones and Peyroux, but, hey, they are useful to point out differences. Melody has some of Norah’s tone and some of Madeleine’s retro feel, but she sounds strangely more cheerful than both.
Her scat on If The Stars Were Mine – and the tune itself – manage airy lightness without being trite.
Even the classic blues sentiments and instrumental setting of Who Will Comfort Me fail to disguise Ms Gardot’s good humour, with her muted-trumpet timbre shining golden.
The songs – with the exception of the closer, Over The Rainbow – are all hers and universally strong. She actually writes songs with a verse and repeated choruses in the grand old Tin Pan Alley tradition. The arrangements are richly varied and the whole thing is given the warm embrace of a Larry Klein production. Classy.
Peter James Trio: Visions and Vistas (Mulberry Tree Music)
Lyrical, harmonious and heartfelt music from a pianist who grew up in Scarborough, studied at the Royal Academy in the early 1990s and has been quietly honing his craft since.
The Spanish-tinged opener is solo, then he is joined by better known fellow Academy alumnus Jeremy Brown on double bass and Thomas Hooper on drums.
Aside from Stella By Starlight the tunes are all originals, and while they are all pleasant enough, they do not easily stay in the memory. Likewise, the playing here tickles the ears most pleasingly but leaves little trace.
The recording is a little confined and the piano doesn’t sound nearly “grand” enough.
