Disc 1: Vocal –
Total time: [74:51]
1. Messin' With Fire
– Clare Teal
2. Saving Grace – Polly Gibbons
3. Corcovado – Jim Tomlinson
4. Autumn Leaves -Anita Wardell
5. But Beautiful – Jacqui Dankworth
6. I Concentrate On You – Elaine Delmar
7. City Life – Georgie Fame
8. Hey There – Ray Gelato
9. Chelsea Morning – Ian Shaw
10. Where is She Now
? -Julia Biel
11. It's Cold Outside – Jason Yarde
12. Sweet Tone Bone – Dennis Rollins
13. Beach Tune - Fulborn
Teversham
Disc 2: Instrumental
– total time: [63:28]
1. Honeydripper (Pts
2&3 instrumental) – Jools Holland
2. Finger Poppin –Alan Barnes
3. Rumble De Thump - Ronnie Rae Quintet
4. Up Too Late – John Taylor
5. Fascinating Rhythm
- Bobby Wellins
6. Telescope – Andrew McCormack
7. Last Chance - Partisans
8. Trial And Error - Acoustic Ladyland
9. Beartown - Polar Bear
10. Lied - Spring Heel Jack
11. Epilogue - From The Land - Tim Garland's
Lighthouse Project
This
2 CD set representing all the artists nominated
for the BBC Jazz Awards 2006 is yet further
proof (as if that were needed!) that there
is a huge wealth of talent in British Jazz.
Sadly it is all too often unrecognized, and
it is to be hoped that this set will help
more people to get to know singers and instrumental
groups they may not otherwise come across.
Those of you who are reading this and do not
live in the UK I urge you to get hold of this
issue and sit back and "be amazed"
at what we have to offer "over here".
I began to count the number of singers and
musicians represented here but lost count
at around 60 by the time I got to track seven
on the first CD! The particularly satisfying
element in such a collection is the new discoveries
sitting happily alongside the well established
names.
Polly
gibbons is a newly arrived talent on the British
jazz scene and has a wonderfully seductive
voice – a real discovery, as is Julia Biel,
and both co-wrote their songs, showing accomplished
writing as well as vocal skills. Together
with the likes of Clare Teal, Jacqui Dankworth
and Georgie Fame, the vocalist’s disc is a
great listen and showcasse the breadth of
singing talent that abounds in the UK.
Disc
Two comprises 11 tracks from the instrumental
section featuring such well-known (in the
UK at least) and respected musicians such
as Jools Holland, Alan Barnes, Ronnie Rae,
John Taylor and Bobby Wellins together with
the lesser known Andrew McCormack, Polar Bear
and others. It is especially pleasing to see
John Taylor in the running in these awards
as his brilliance has been too long overlooked
whilst the continent has recognized his abilities
for years and his contribution here is a Steve
Swallow original ‘Up too Late’ featuring Palle
Danielesson (Bass) and Martin France (Drums).
Bobby Wellins’ treatment of ‘Fascinating Rhythm’
is masterly as in Alan Barnes’ rendition of
Horace Silver’s ‘Finger Poppin’’. Evidence
of experimentation comes through in Partisan’s
‘Last Chance’ and Acoustic Ladyland’s ‘Trial
and error’, whilst Polar Bear’s ‘Beartown’
has elements drawn from Central Europe – all
of them showing startling originality.
The
disc begins with all guns blazing as Jools
Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
gives us part of ‘Honeydripper’ whilst bringing
up the rear the penultimate track is by Spring
Heel Jack (John Coxon and Ashley Wales) plus
John Tchicai who produce a wondrous concoction
on no less than 12 instruments plus voice
and samples in their co-written ‘Lied’. The
final offering is from Tim garland with the
suitably placed ‘Epilogue – From The land’
– a beautiful and gentle tune.
I’m
glad I’m not on the Judges’ Panel – how they’ll
select a winner from each category I really
don’t know. All the numbers are detailed with
the discs they’re drawn from so discerning
listeners can track them down. My advice:
Do so!
Steve Arloff
CD Reviews
Specific Jazz
SPEC005
