CD Review: Allison Neale - Melody Express.

Allison Neale (alt/fl); Dave Cliff (gtr); Simon Thorpe (bs); Matt Skelton (dms).

Hardly a hot off the presses CD - it was recorded 10 years ago and released in 2004. For all I know it's a collectors item now. If it is, then start searching because this is one of the most delightful discs I've heard in years.

I heard Allison and Dave Cliff at Scarborough a couple of years ago and I was impressed then. A couple of weeks back I heard the lady with Scott Hamilton at Pizza Express then, lo and behold, last night at Blaydon, Roly said "You may want to borrow this!" - Her first CD.

What a lovely disc! A gorgeous choice of tunes inc. Nancy (With the Laughing Face), Stardust, Imagination, How About You, A Portrait of Jenny,, I'll Never Smile Again...

A beautiful alto sound - light and fluffy like candy floss but with much more substance than candy floss. Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, early Lee Konitz hover around the edges of her playing which floats like a musical butterfly before landing on a flower next to your heart.

And as if that wasn't enough you have Dave Cliff (ah that explains the Roly connection!) complementing her perfectly - the pair are like Jim Hall and Paul Desmond - so compatible. Needless to say, bass and drums round it off perfectly.

 I might, in retrospect, make this my record of the year 2004!

Lance.

PS: Roly, you've got a fight on your hands to get this one back! (only joking I'll have it back to you by Xmas 2015.)