(Review by Lance)
I wasn't familiar with Molley's work until I discovered he'd played with SNJO and the Stu Brown Sextet who gave a memorable re-creation of the Raymond Scott Sextet a couple of years back at Sage Gateshead.
Yet another fine "Jock". Has anyone ever done a ratio count by area of jazz musicians to population in the UK? My feeling is that Scotland may well be leading the field.
Certainly, if this disc is anything to go by, they are in pole (poll?) position. Caribe, actually born in Brazil, has been a mainstay of the Scottish scene for many years and is deservedly among the first call bassists north of the border.
Eight originals by Molley and a couple of standards put this in the running for next years CD of the Year Awards (FM Awards closed on August 31)
Molley blows the kind of tenor we remember yet the phrases are of today. He's equally at home on soprano and bass clarinet plus there's a bit of piano in there too. I hope this CD brings him to the attention of the powers that be below the border - the wall's no longer there except perhaps in some cultural minds. I note future gigs include the Isle of Skye and Aberdeen - I'd like to see a lot more gigs for him 'twixt there and Land's End.
Not that Molley's the only guy tossing the caber, on piano, Tom Gibbs also.displays the inherent jazz talent that is in, and emerging from, Scotland. Brown and Caribe we know well. Let's face it, if Scotland ever goes it alone, these guys should be in the cabinet alongside Tommy Smith as Prime Minister and Paul Towndrow blowing Foreign Secretary - to misquote a passage from, I think, Colin McInnes' Absolute Beginners. On this showing, Molloy could even be deputy Prime Minister, or should that be 'Prez?'
Absolute Beginners was a good book - this is one helluva better CD!
The CD - Brian Molley Quartet - Clock is to be launched on October 29 at Ramshorn Theater, Ingram St., Glasgow. More details from www.brianmolley.co.uk. CD released October 14.
Lance.
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