(Review by Russell)
Matt Owens’ CD The
Aviators’ Ball is an ambitious project; large in scale, multi-genre in concept
and realisation. The album is the bassist’s debut as a leader and he has
assembled some of the north west’s finest musicians to assist him in his
endeavours. Leftfield, indie, alt folk, string and wind ensembles, much of the
music was written as a commission from the Manchester Jazz Festival.
On a visit to Prague during the city’s ball season
Owens found himself, as one does, at an aviators’ ball, hence the title of the
album. The CD’s cover artwork features a photograph taken in 1905 on the
rooftop garden of the Midland Hotel, Manchester. Grainy, evocative of a bygone
era, the image illustrates the retro aspect of Owens’ compositions. Retro, yes,
yet of the moment too, with the composer’s interest in contemporary music developments
and the art of the moving image (film and television credits). The musicians
contributing to the project are drawn from across the spectrum. Bassoon
introduces the opening track – Raindrops
on Our Rooftop – and it could be straight from Peter and the Wolf. Trumpet ace Neil Yates (a bona fide jazz
player) is heard on tin whistle, percussion (Rick Weedon and Danny Ward
excellent throughout) references the folk music scene and the strings of the
Vintage String Quartet suggest the filmic qualities found in the writing of
Philip Glass and others.
So, is The
Aviators’ Ball of interest to readers of Bebop Spoken Here? Should the album receive a recommendation? The
jazz content is, at best, minimal, the music excellent. A worthwhile purchase,
but switch off your jazz antenna. Matt
Owens’ Aviators’ Ball will be
released on Monday May 18 on All Made Up
Records AMU0007 and on the night Owens will be playing the music at St
Werburgh’s Church, Chorlton, Manchester during the Chorlton Arts Festival.
Seven o’clock start, admission £5.00.. Russell.
Matt Owens (double bass), Neil Yates (trumpet &
tin whistle), Steve Chadwick (trumpet & cornet), John Ellis (piano &
organ), Edward Barnwell (piano), Tom Davies (guitar & vocals), Billy
Buckley (guitar & lap steel), Zoe Kyoti (guitar & vocals), Kirsty
Almeida (vocals), Rosa Campos Fernandez (vocals), Rioghnach Connolly (vocals),
Orli Nyles (vocals), Cara Robinson (vocals), Caroline Sheehan (vocals), Simon
Davies (bassoon), Jill Allen (clarinet), Rosa Campos Fernandez (clarinet),
Amina Hussain (clarinet), Atholl Ransome (alto flute), Philip Howarth (cor
anglais), Sophie Hastings (glockenspiel, marimba & vibes), Rick Weedon
(drums, percussion & vibes) Danny Ward (drums), Souza Wind Quintet: Carla
Souza (flute), Daniel Benfield (oboe), Lucy Rugman (clarinet & bass
clarinet), Lucy Keyes (bassoon) & Jon Harris (French horn), Vintage String
Quartet: Naomi Koop (violin), Alison Williams (violin), Aimée Johnson (viola)
& Semay Wu (cello).
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