
(Review by Hugh C.)
As regular
listeners to Jazz Record Requests on BBC Radio 3 may have heard, one of
my first introductions to jazz in my student years was Barbara Thompson and Paraphernalia. I was delighted to find, then, that a new
album has just been released.
Jazz lovers may
be aware that Barbara Thompson was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in
1997. She announced the first of several
“farewell” tours in 2001. Every three
years or so as her condition deteriorated she thought she would not be able to
go on, but with the continuing help of new medications and her dedicated team
of carers she somehow continued writing and playing.
The Last Fandango
has
been some ten years in the making and was recorded and mixed in Spring/Summer
2014 at Temple Music Studio. The name
(derived from the title of the fourth track) hints at the reality that this CD
release may be last from Barbara Thompson as no real fix is in sight for her
Parkinson's disease.
The CD comes in
at just under 60 minutes and is vintage Paraphernalia and Barbara
Thompson. The line-up on the CD is the
same as that on the Live'05 DVD - which was received to much
acclaim. Straitlaced and The
Magic Carpet both have a Middle-Eastern quality with Barbara's signature
saxophone style to the fore in the first track.
Jon Hiseman and Dave Ball provide a rhythmic introduction on the second
track. The agile violin playing of Billy
Thompson (no relation) weaves through the whole album. Bulletproof follows and is driven by Hiseman's
rhythmic powerhouse, aided and abetted by Lemer on piano. The track has a filmic quality and brings to
mind the kind of vintage cop shows that can be viewed on selected TV
channels. The Last Fandango does
what it says on the tin.
Saxey demonstrates
the versatile talents of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet – long-time collaborators
with Barbara Thompson. One for the
Road features the flute playing of Shona Brown, together with a fine bass
riff by Dave Ball against Billy Thompson's violin. Spring Fever brings some Caribbean
sunshine with an up-tempo dance rhythm (roll on Spring!). The Smooch slows it down again – as
might be expected. Satsuma is a
tasty little number, composed by Peter Lemer – all other compositions are by
Barbara Thompson (Peter joined Barbara Thompson in the composition of Saxey)
- and freshens the musical palate before the dessert. The anthemic track The Unseen Way
provides a fitting finale to the whole.
The CD insert features a gallery of individual and band photographs over
the years.
As Jon Heisman
says “there is sadly no prospect of a tour to promote the album, we are relying
on word of mouth to help spread the word”.
The only way you will hear this music is to buy the CD!
The Last
Fandango is
available now from Temple Music (http://www.temple-music.com/new-album-from-barbara-thompsons-paraphernalia/
) for the very reasonable price of £10.99 plus delivery.
Hugh
2 comments :
So exciting! Great to see she's still playing
Looking forward to hearing the CD. Great review btw
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