Nick Costley-White (guitar); Matt Robinson (piano); Conor Chaplin (bass); Dave Hamblett (drums): Sam Rapley (bass clarinet).
(Review by Lance).
It may be June but it seems to be jazz that is bursting out all over going by the endless stream of albums and young musicians that are arriving on the scene almost daily. Not just in London, but wherever there are seats of musical learning that incorporate jazz into the curriculum such as Birmingham, Leeds and, of course, Durham, Newcastle and Sage Gateshead. Whereas in the past an aspiring bass player would turn up at a jam session with an instrument still showing the chalk marks on the fingerboard hoping to sit in and thus further his knowledge from the gnarled veterans on the stand, these days, it's the gnarled veterans learning from the youngsters whose minds are crammed full of pentatonic scales, Lydian or Dorian modes along with polytonal themes.
Nick Costley-White graduated from London's Guildhall in 2012 and formed the Jazz Nursery in a railway arch at the back of Tate Modern. A project that ran successful monthly gigs almost until now.
During this period, Costley-White became an in-demand guitarist working with many well-known names.
Surprisingly, this is his debut album and it demonstrates just how versatile a guitarist he is.
The opening Just One of Those Things does no disservice to composer Cole Porter rather it enhances the much-loved standard's jazz qualities without detracting from the original structure.
Loads of Bar Blues, an original take on the traditional form stays within that tradition proving the guitarist's learning didn't start on the last chapter.
Swing State's post-bop feel indicates the gradual move towards more contemporary waters although the solos by both Costley-White and Robinson wouldn't have been out of place on a '50s Blue Note session - the arrangement possibly would.
Detour Ahead, by guitarist, Herb Ellis is given a revised look that surely wouldn't have displeased the composer. Rich chords abound.
The 9 minutes of Thinky Pain adds Sam Rapley on bass clarinet and a darker mood prevails with Costley-White's sombre introduction whilst Rapley hovers ominously. The middle of the three sections has Chaplin ponderously 'walking' whilst Rapley reaches out to heights where bass clarinets usually fear to tread. But Rapley is no angel, briefly, he's the Devil Incarnate before the track runs out with all of the voices splendidly dissonant.
By the time the album closes with Bridges and My Number One, we've been on a journey that's traversed a distance in time with, I'm sure, even more detours ahead.
I've jumped the gun a little with this review as the Ubuntu Music release date isn't until July 13 and the Pizza Express launch concert not until July 31 but, I'm told, tickets for this latter event are going fast so don't hang about.
Lance
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