- I Fall In Love Too Easily Geoff Eales (Mountains
of Fire - BBJ1006)
- Green Liz Fletcher (Mellow Mania - BBJ1001)
- Lament For Mary Caixa (Ball and Biscuit
- BBJ1007)
- Sympathy Richard Niles (Santa Rita -
BBJ1005)
- I Can’t Let Go Now Kate Dimbleby (Good
Vibrations - BBJ 1004)
- In A Sentimental Mood Nigel Hitchcock (The
Snakeranch Sessions - BBJ 1002)
- The Meaning Of The Blues Liz Fletcher
(Mellow Mania - BBJ1001)
- Young And Foolish Geoff Eales (Mountains
Of Fire - BBJ1006)
- Watercolours Steve Topping (Time And
Distance - BBJ1003)
- After The First Udu Caixa (Ball And Biscuit
- BBJ1007)
As the
name of the compilation suggests this is late night listening and
if it’s quality and relaxed entertainment you are looking for then
here you are. Featured are several exceptional performers from the
field of contemporary music. Sadly no accompanying musicians are listed
in the sparse cover notes.
Tracks
1 and 8 feature pianist Geoff Eales and on the first he is accompanied
by Nigel Hitchcock. Both are fine musicians and work well together.
There is a downside to this track – Hitchcock’s playing in the higher
register is occasionally distorted which may well be a fault of the
sound engineer. At other times he sounds slightly out of tune and
the slow vibrato doesn’t always work. Nevertheless I enjoyed it. Track
8 sees Eales with bass and drums accompaniment where his various piano
talents are well displayed.
Nigel
Hitchcock gives a solo performance on track 6, Ellington’s ‘In A Sentimental
Mood.’ Even though at times he seems to snatch his notes it does display
his wonderful talent. A fresh approach and poise are displayed here
and there is an innovative thrust evident on what is one of the Duke’s
most performed compositions.
It is
some ten years since Liz Fletcher, now well established, came on the
scene and the two featured tracks are from her recording debut ‘Mellow
Mania’ made in 1997. Both highlight Liz’s unique style, phrasing and
well thought out approach to singing ballads.
Caixa
is a small group made up of a number of London Symphony Orchestra
musicians together with Stan Sulzman playing saxophone and flute and
Pete Saberton on piano. Over some twenty years Sulzman, playing with
a Getz-like quality, has been at the forefront of contemporary jazz
as well as being a noted jazz educator. The first track is a haunting
composition showing Sulzman’s perfect breath control and feeling for
the piece. The second item has a sombre introduction that eventually
gives way to a pleasant passage containing South American undertones
and featuring soprano saxophone.
Kate
Dimbleby is featured on the ballad ‘I Can’t Let Go Now’ which is performed
well and fits in with the overall context of the disc but this one
track is insufficient to make any real comment on her capabilities.
‘Sympathy’
features that ‘complete’ musician guitarist Richard Niles whose background
is second to none. This is a duet with flautist Nelson Rangell together
with a delicate string accompaniment. I assume the composition is
Niles’ - it shows superb musicianship and conjures up a myriad of
images.
Steve Topping is new
to me and one track makes it difficult to assess his talents. Here
we have a soporific composition that goes well with the rest of the
album.
Jack Ashby
CD Reviews
BBJ1009
