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Crotchet

Stranger Things Happen at C Trio AAB Caber 027

 

1. Ant’s Milk
2. Station
3. Oddity
4. Yet
5. Sundance
6. Stuff Swing
7. The Clock
8. Fin
9. Curiouser & Curiouser
10. Two

Kevin Mackenzie – Guitar

Phil Bancroft – Saxes

Tom Bancroft – Drums & Bodhran

Guest –Brian Finnegan – Flutes & Whistles

As an out and out jazz fan that is not at all keen on fusion or world music, I was not expecting to like this album very much. My reservations however were soon overcome, these guys really do create interesting music and the jazz content is high. Scotland has produced many fine saxophone players Tommy Whittle, Gary Cox and Bobby Wellins spring to mind; but there have been many others. Phil Bancroft is a very worthy addition to that great lineage!

Kevin Mackenzie is a sensitive guitar player with a real feeling for holding things together, as well as being an excellent soloist. Tom Bankroft looks after the percussion department well whether on drums or the more unusual bodhran, which produces an almost bass-like quality at times.

Guest Brian Finnegan is a very accomplished flute player as well as a specialist on the Celtic whistle; he also possesses a nice jazz feel and is capable of first class improvisation.

Each member of the regular trio has contributed one or more compositions to the album and most are refreshingly different, creating a range of moods or musical poems. Sundance, a Phil Bancroft original, is particularly effective with a theme statement from Tom and some interesting backings throughout.

The sleeve note points out that in the title Stuff Swing, stuff is not used as a verb! The track does swing in parts and contains some other ‘stuff’ as well.

The Clock starts with Mackenzie playing a bass line on guitar and develops into another interesting performance.

Trio AAB would make an interesting addition to any Jazz Festival programme, their work is unusual and interesting but not so far removed from Jazz, as we know it, to lose the audience. The fusion of Scottish Folk music and Jazz works better than most fusion experiments, perhaps it is the reason that Scotland produces so many fine jazz musicians. Overall the album is an interesting musical experience, not to be missed.

Don Mather

 

 

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