Ivo
Neame (pno, Acc, synth); Jim Hart (vbs); Tori Freestone (ten, fl); Tom Farmer (bs);
Andrea Di Biase (bs); Dave Hamblett (dms).
(Review
by Steve H).
A highly enjoyable album of original compositions
from the Ivo Neame Quintet. Neame, known for his work with Phronesis and Kairos 4Tet
has gathered together an impressive ensemble to interpret his complex and
original material. The compositions often start in one direction and then seem
to take off tangentially to another.
Personality Clash gets the album off
to a cracking up-tempo start with Freestone on sax and Neame on piano
dominating but with the additional bonus of Hart’s wonderfully refreshing vibes
playing. The title track Strata is just that - a haunting
multi layered atmospheric piece featuring Neame on synthesizer. A slow
melancholy piece follows, OCD Blues, which I will dedicate to
a number of my manically tidy work colleagues although some of the other
offerings (Personality Clash, Crise De
Nerfs) could have equally sufficed. Miss
Piggy is another vibrant vehicle for Freestone to exploit and again features
a most welcome vibes solo from Hart. Eastern
Chant is a trio piece yet it is also a Folk Song with Neame playing accordion
and giving it a real Eastern European feel to it. The final track Snowfall has a somewhat familiar theme
and reinforces my recognition of what a fine pianist, composer and arranger
Neame has become. It also, fittingly, provides an opportunity for all of the
band members to shine. Steve H.
Available on Monday (June 15). Whirlwind Records.
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