Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ballamy at his best!, 22 Dec 2007
Over the last 25 years or so the brilliant Iain Ballamy has shone on the British jazz scene. He's always been an 'act' to see and hear whatever the context he's playing in, and this recent release shows him playing as 'straight-ahead' -tenor saxophone quartet jazz as one's likely to hear, particularly given Iain's approach to playing (and composing/writing) is as intellectually, teasingly off-field/centre as it comes! (Arguably, Monk would have loved his approach).
This CD exemplifies Iain's Shorteresque majesty on tenor: his tone rich and memorable: his range dynamic and always musical: his voicing and ideas constantly evolving and turning forwards, backwards -inside-out and yet remaining coherent as the shape of the music changes and reforms.
However, it is also the beautiful support of the trio that makes the music really come alive. Pianist Gareth Williams, bassist Orlando Le Fleming and Martin France on drums, respectively, will hardly need an introduction to those with a finger on the pulse of UK jazz: suffice it to say their playing is amazing: a perfect foil for the trajectories Iain's solos take.
The 9 tracks offer diversity from a be-bop, (Mehldauesque) reworking of 'My way', and the 'Classic quartet'-esquee brilliant and characteristically titled, 'Tribute to Alan Skimore's tribute to John Coltrane'. There's also the genius of the tango-like 'Convolution (for Dudley Moore). The album is just the right length at 53 minutes; is exquisitely produced and packaged and, as they say in this day and age, is a 'must have' for any lover of (modern)jazz. As always with Iain's music, 'standards' are reworked, hinted at and flirted with in the most delicious way that maintains constant intrigue, freshness and swing.
This CD contains special music and if you want to hear some of the best tenor saxophone quartet music in 2007 then this is for you. Brilliant!!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Iain's best effort!, 21 May 2008
Well, the above reviewers seem to be raving about this one, as did Jazzwise & other well know jazz papers - although it must be difficult to criticize such a well known figure on the UK scene (when you're part of it). I think that Iain is an excellent player and has made some very good CDs in the past, and I suspect in the future ....... but this is not his best, although if you're a fan you'll probably want to check this one out anyhow.
I find that Iain's playing on this album is rather busy and at times it seems to lack a little space in his solo lines. So, what's wrong with that you might ask(?) .... well, it becomes a bit monotone after a few solos. Having said that there are however some more attractive medium tempo tunes - 'St Ella' is one such example. The tunes (re-writes of standard tunes) are also maybe not his best and at times a little confused melodically, he tries to make a few 'interesting' changes to these standard chord patterns which don't always come off. It's certainly true that the 'Tribute to Alan Skidmore .... ' is one of the best and most swinging tunes on this CD, but for the rest...?!
Anyhow all that said Iain Ballamy is a player of impeccable taste, playing beautiful lines and writing good tunes. But for my money I would opt for an earlier album of his - all of the FOOD CDs, Balloon Man (if you can find a copy), Little Radio etc.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Ballamy does it again, 18 Mar 2008
Iain Ballamy always manages to sound fresh. His take on jazz is always wonderfully quirky yet idiomatically congruent. It is jazz but not as we know it! The opening 'My Way' kind of says it all really - it is immediately identifiable as the Sinatra classic but it has a wonderfully eccentric Englishness about it that immediately identifies it as the work of Guildford's favorite saxophone son! The rest of the CD consists of Ballamy originals each performed with that delightful Ballamy slant. The man is a credit to his horn, the genre as a whole and to this country inparticular. He is not a wannabe American; he is an original and a welcome sound on the UK jazz scene.
The man should be given an MBE.
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