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Full English
All arrangements by David Rees-Williams
Country Song [4:26]
Greensleeves [6:29]
British Grenadiers [3:02]
Enigma (DR-W) [4:24]
Jerusalem [5:29]
Almand [2:32]
Land of Hope and Glory [3:55]
Bobby Shaftoe [2:35]
Nimrod [5:35]
Lincolnshire Poacher [2:50]
Scarborough Fayre [5:30]
Tallis's Canon [8:34]
My Old Man (Don't Dilly Dally) [3:45]
Ten Green Bottles [5:33]
David Rees-Williams (piano, with Hammond organ and organ)
rec. Music Room, Champs Hill, Pulborough, England, 7-9 November
2011 (piano tracks); Clyde Street, Canterbury, England, 16-17 April
2012 (organ tracks). DDD
CHAMPS HILL RECORDS CHRCD036 [64:45]
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This disc marks a rare venture into bluesy cool jazz territory
for Champs Hill Records. This may come as a surprise, pleasant
or otherwise, to those expecting something different. Certainly
there is no indication on the cover that this marks a massive
departure from the label's usual output, other than David Rees-Williams's
name. The David Rees-Williams (DRW) Trio are Britain's answer
to the Jacques Loussier Trio, though some may argue that Britain
does not need one especially. Both Trios have a reputation for
taking perfectly good material from the 'classical' realm and
subjecting it to jazz improvisation routines - in their words,
"unit[ing] the best of classical and jazz". Reviews of recent
recordings by the DRW Trio on the DePaean label can be seen
here
and here.
To enter into the spirit of what Rees-Williams describes in
his foreword as "a strong sense of British patriotism [in 2012]
with both the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games",
his stated aim with this album was "to compile a set of highly
provocative English tunes". It may be that the combination of
a Union Flag cover design with the title 'Full English' will
provoke the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland!
To the stubbornly unenlightened, ironically, jazz improvisation
has a tendency to sound entirely predictable. It has a seemingly
endless capacity to turn every tune into pretty much the same
thing - a meandering, cliché-ridden flow of slightly
pulled-about rhythms, harmonies and melodies that have been
drizzled with minimalist sentimental syrup. That is indeed what
this CD will probably sound like to those immune to cool jazz.
Yet for those that know and enjoy the DRW Trio (or its French
counterpart), and for all who like to think of themselves as
musically liberal, this disc will certainly not disappoint.
Rees-Williams here is his Trio, minus guitar and drum-kit.
His arrangements are what they are, and admirers of that kind
of thing will appreciate the craft that goes into it, not to
mention the fine keyboard-work on display here.
Some pieces have had Hammond and 'church' organ tracks, also
performed by Rees-Williams, dubbed onto them, ostensibly for
extra texture. Whether they really enhance the solo piano sound,
or merely add a layer of cheesy effects, is debatable. Considered
more objectively, there are really only two tracks that stand
out from the rest as a bit different. The first of these is
the long, thoughtful Tallis's Canon, which alone has
been given a less flighty sound. Then there’s the dreamy
Enigma (DR-W), which has some Satiean and Ravel-like
tints, and which is - coincidentally? - the only original piece
in Rees-Williams's programme.
Sound and general technical quality are very good. The booklet
is well-presented, with informative notes by the reliably knowledgeable
Malcolm MacDonald, perhaps testing new waters himself.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
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