CD Review: ReDiviDeR - Meets I Dig Monk Tuned

Matthew Jacobson: drums, Nick Roth: alto saxophone; Colm O’Hara: trombone; Derek Whyte: electric bass: Ben Davis: cello (4); Kit Downes: keyboards (1, 5); Alex Roth: electric guitar: (6); Alex Bonny: trumpet, electronics (3).

(Review by Veets)

Well this one will certainly have those poor unfortunate creatures fleeing the pet shop before the blaze has hardly got under-way.  Although inspired by amongst others  Thelonious Monk and Charlie Mingus,  The I Dig Monk Tuned  is an anagram United Kingdom .This Irish palindromically named quartet  led by drummer composer Matthew Jacobson  is supplemented by  the addition  of some of the UK’s  rising star musicians.
 Each track being composed specifically for the individual guest (the ‘Meets’ of the title).  The album kicks off with Twin Kodes with Kit Downes  on Rhodes and with a lovely trombone solo from O’Hara. This is followed by a brief interlude of what appears to be  chat and drums before Animal Code begins  in a misleadingly soft manner   escalating into squeaking squawking mayhem with the help of  Alex Bonney on trumpet and electronics. This is pretty free stuff .  Bin Saved  features   Ben Davis on cello and this  has an almost classical Bartokian feel  as Bass and Cello combine elegantly. However the rest of the band soon join in to provide a bit of ‘attitude’  before a mellow trombone plays the track out. Another ‘chatty’ interlude follows leading us to Alex Roth’s guitar contribution on Velvet Pouch a lively rocky number. Finally,  May I Agree closes the album with more mellow trombone work before the ensemble joins in for the finale.

This an interesting album but not for those fearful of the fanned flames of free jazz .  it also gives the listener the opportunity to make one’s own anagrams from United Kingdom – I came up with ‘Due Kind Timing ’ and  ‘Gin Mend Kit Duo’  what about you ?

Steve.