David Austin Grey (keys); Eliza Shaddad (vcls); Sam Wooster (tpt); Chris Young/Adam Jackson (alt); Nick Rundle (ten); Nick Jurd (bs); Jim Bashford (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Russell reported on DAG's gig at the Cluny in 2013 with the Greyish Quartet which was basically the root line-up here minus Shaddad, Wooster, Jackson and Rundle.
Russell was enthusiastic then just as I am now.
The compositions - all penned, lyrics and music, by Brummie based Grey - go a long way towards tempering my antipathy towards original compositions!
They have form and the improv is related, not just to the harmonic base but to the meanings of the titles.
Shaddad's voice on A Perfect Sea of Green and Blue encapsulates the emotions of falling in and out of love, and of a person falling under the spell of a girl with remarkably beautiful eyes. She nails it - the eyes have always had it for me too!
That is but the opening track, for the rest the musicians paint on the canvas provided by the composer.
Life Goes to a Plan Infrequently is based on the harmonic foundation of I Fall in Love Too Easily and is a sensitive and emotional piece in its own right with this Wooster having Grey as his Jeeves!
Shaddad returns for The Town Behind the Lights - a dreamlike memory of a beautiful coastal town punctuated by an intense blast by Rundle.
Aranami (Crashing Waves) is a seascape (a seascape in Birmingham?). Equally paradoxical is Resident Seagulls - an ode to Birmingham's (very noisy) seagull population. Them damn gulls get everywhere!
Other inspirations include more birds such as kestrels. and ravens, jazzmen Soweto Kinch, Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela, and martial art guys Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
An eclectic mix that works through the strength of the compositions and the creativity of the soloists.
My initial copy was lost in the post - thank God this one wasn't - it's a gem!
Lance.
PS: Cormack Loane, if any of these guys passed through your portals you must be mighty proud!
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