This recording wasbrought to fruition by bassist Matt Ridely but conceived by the late Michale Garrick a couple of years ago. They don't try and break with tradition and re-arrange these classic tunes; what they do is perform them in a respectful and tasteful fashion in keeping with the MJQ themselves. Jim Hart and barry Green deliver creative and swinging solos on every piece and Dave O'Higgins contributes some fine tenor sax on four tunes including a fine version of sony Rollin's "No Moe". A couple of Michael Garrick tunes are included as a tribute to the creator and mentor of this fine project. If you don't have any MJQ in your collection then this will be a fine… Read more
Another mellow masterpiece from US born but UK resident scott Hamilton. Recorded live at the Pizza Express Jazz Club this captures Hamilton at the top of his game. Accompanied by his regular trio of John Pearce(piano), Dave Green(bass) and Steve brown(drums) they have become a relaxed and close knit unit. Of course its standards all the way and fine one's they are too. Hamilton of course never seems to put a foot wrong with his unhurried style and gorgeous full tone, he is tailor made for this kind relaxed swing. John Pearce on piano, as always, is swinging, lyrical and highly tasteful and the rhythm section doesn't really get any better than this. The cosey confines of the Pizza… Read more
Excellent album and a novel idea to boot ! Dave O'Higgins and Pete Wraight got together to agree on some themes for their big band album and that was where their writing colaboration ended. They both went their separate ways and wrote pieces based on the agreed themes. The results are never less than interesting and the execution from the musicians is excellent. O'Higgins, as you would expect, has writtien pieces in the tried and trusted jazz tradition with head-solos-head arrangements. Wraight however shows his compositional skills,honed over the years in TV and Film, to create atmosphere and mood without the tradional jazz solos you would expect. They both use exactly the same… Read more
