Move!
1.Clunky
2.Interlude
3.Columns
4.Interlude #2
5.Industrial (for Alan)
City of London Sinfonia, cond. Clark Rundell, Gwilym Simcock (piano), Yuri Goloubev (double bass), Martin France (drums), John Parricelli (guitar)
Simple Tales
6.Overture
7.The Theme
8.Mr Bricolage
9.Long Road
10.Dance (for Ann)
Thomas Gould (violin), Will Schofield (cello), Gwilym Simcock (piano), Yuri Goloubev (double bass), Martin France (drums)
Music composed by Gwilym Simcock
rec.on 19-20 November, 2012 at Angel Studios, London, UK
ACT 9564-2
[59:24]
Anyone who has seen or heard Gwilym Simcock will readily agree that he is one of the brightest and most innovative jazz pianists working in Britain today
and this disc is further proof of it. What we have here is a sum of two parts since the first five tracks are from his suite Move! for which his
trio is augmented by John Parricelli and accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia.
Essentially the suite is in three sections linked by two piano interludes and is full of rhythmic energy driven along by Gwilym’s piano. In fact the first
interlude reveals and emphasises his classical training and made me wish that he’d write an extensive classical piece which this shows he could do very
successfully. All three main sections are brilliantly contrasting pieces with Clunky a satisfyingly rhythmically strong and offbeat piece to kick
things off with and Gwilym’s piano has some great moments from the middle onwards. What is interesting is that the orchestra in no way “swamps” the group
but is simply another ‘instrument’. The first interlude grows out of the final notes of the first track and as I say highlights his classical credentials
in a really beautiful little gem.
Columns
is a dreamy and relaxed piece with the orchestra acting as an accompaniment to Gwilym’s laid back piano as does his rhythm section’s gentle support. Gwilym
says in his notes that the second interlude is “the firing and winding up of the ‘machine’ that is the spirit of ‘industrial’” He wrote Industrial
for his Dad Alan who he says not only has a penchant for all things industrial but likes a tune “you can actually tap your feet to!” His father will
therefore have no problems in doing that with this piece which is a real powerhouse with great rhythmic drive despite some more subdued moments that
include John Parricelli’s guitar giving a bit of a rock feel to it. Towards the end Gwilym’s piano has some spiky playing alongside Martin France’s driving
drums with the orchestra joining in to bring the suite to an exciting conclusion.
The second ‘set’ on the disc is a complete contrast as Simple Tales consists of Gwilym’s trio plus violin and cello and making for a tight little
chamber group; in fact this suite was originally written as a classical piano trio with bass and drums accompaniment added later for this arrangement. Overture opens up the proceedings in a nice relaxed way with a beautiful main theme that opens and closes it. The Theme is also just as
beautiful with a really lovely little bass section and it is hard to imagine how it all sounds without bass and drums though with Gwilym Simcock you just
know it will work.
Mr. Bricolage
he says is inspired by a French builders’ merchant and is suitably robust with the odd cry such as Oh yeah – lovely! and sounds that could be
interpreted as running up and down ladders and the depositing of piles of bricks but it is all very nicey spiky!
Long Road
is a total contrast with the violin and piano opening with a plaintive theme that eventually lightens up a little though the piece remains a thoughtful and
reflective one with some wonderful moments for the classical trio element to come into its own.
Dance!
is dedicated to Gwilym’s mother Ann who has a particular affection for Celtic folk music and the violin acts in a suitably fiddle-like fashion with the
Celtic themes cleverly woven through and the music spirals upward to end abruptly.
As I said in the beginning Gwilym Simcock is an extremely talented pianist and this, coupled with his compositional skills, places him at the forefront of
the wealth of Jazz talent for which Britain is fully entitled to be increasingly proud. Any admirer of his will snap this disc up eagerly and those who are
yet to discover him would find this disc a brilliant first step to exploring his music. Every musician on the disc gives their all and the whole is a truly
satisfying experience.
Steve Arloff
CD Reviews
ACT 9564-2
