Helena Kay (tenor sax); Ferg Ireland (bass); David Ingamells (drums).(Review by Lance).
With tonight's BBC Young Jazz Awards on BBC4 this seems to be an appropriate time to introduce a CD by another young award winner - Helena Kay.
Helena, Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2015 and winner of the Peter Whittingham Award two years later, makes an impressive showing with this, her debut album.
That she chooses a trio format sans guitar or piano to meet the world could be seen as brave, foolhardy or a display of confidence in her ability to pull it off - rather like an aerialist tightrope walker attempting to cross the Thames on his/her first gig.
Fortunately, with the safety net of Ireland and Ingamells plus her own sense of direction, that confidence was not displaced and her saxophone never got wet.
It's a refreshing sound, the light, almost altoish tone favoured by Getz, Mobley and the other cool players, in her hands, is as relevant today as it ever was.
The tenor floats like some kind of will o' the wisp above the integral foundation of Ireland and Ingamells - gossamer wings indeed.
Originals all bar two - Bird's Kim - named after his daughter - is given a makeover that hints at her north of the border background and provided the inspiration for the trio's name, whilst Stardust dispenses with the safety net for a solo rendition of the Carmichael classic, inspired by Nat King Cole's version - verse and all.
Well worth checking out. It hits the street on December 7 and there's a launch at the Vortex on December 12.
Lance.
No comments :
Post a Comment