Max Luthert (bs); Gareth Lochrane (fl); Duncan Eagles (ten); Seb Pipe (alt0; Matt Robinson (pno); Dave Hamblett (dms).
(Review by Lance).
I suppose one could call this a concept album. Nine original tunes (will jazz ever seduce a wider audience on original tunes alone?) Luthert's particular conception here is to put together music with certain sounds and structures that had been interesting him for a number of years. A number of the tunes are named after phrases or places in books he had been reading. He doesn't mention the actual books so perhaps the listener could try to guess - or better still, ignore all this ****, and enjoy some fine playing by six superb musicians.
Lochrane's flute playing on whichever instrument he favours - his flutery includes just about all of them, both above and below the normal C - is captivating and I can think of few flautists I would rather hear other than, perhaps, the late Harold McNair..
No such flirtations for Eagles - he knows his place and blows ace tenor, no doubt aware that bro Sammy is coming up on the rails (elsewhere). The alto chair here is with Seb Pipe who slots in easily to the concept. Maybe he's read the same books as Max! Certainly his solo on the title track would be worthy of many a literary classic - Oliver Twist asking for more?
It's a well-played and very listenable album but, apart from Banrock Station which really was on a moon mission, it didn't actually send me into orbit.
If you caught the band live at the Pizza Launch tonight you will, I'm sure, disagree!
Released on Whirlwind WR4659 - October 27.
Lance.
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