CD Review: Chris Ingham Quartet - Dudley.

Chris Ingham (piano); Paul Higgs (trumpet); Rev. Andrew J. Brown (bass); George Double (drums) + Harry Greene (tenor final track)

(Review by Lance).

We remember Dudley Moore as one of the outstanding British jazz pianists. In the world of the Unjazz Dudley was renowned as a comedian/actor. However, what neither parallel universes may have realised is that he was also a composer of merit who contributed scores to a number of movies that many considered to be better than the movies themselves (take note John Wilson for next season).

Personally, Dud and Pete did nothing for me on TV but, listening to Dudley Moore's piano did! I remember when I worked in that Newcastle music store and the day that Chris Karan (Dud's drummer) came in to buy some sticks - it was like I'd met the man who sat on the right hand of God! And maybe I had.

Ingham doesn't attempt to impersonate Moore, instead, he focuses on Dudley's compositions and, with his three cohorts, brings these works to the attention they deserve.

Paul Higgs' trumpet playing fits the mood, Rev. Brown cuts his cloth and Double does the biz.

As a matter of local interest, on Ingham's previous CD - Hoagy - Russ Morgan played drums.

A delightful CD - not one for the Steves to review but tailor-made for an old smoothie like me to relax and listen to with a gin and vermouth in the company of a number 10. Well, I've got the gin and the vermouth all I need is the... (shrugs) You can't win 'em all.

A good CD capable of standing on its own merits but also a worthy tribute to one of the British jazz piano greats by a British jazz pianist who ain't no slouch either!.

Details of all tracks and more can be found here.

Lance.