CD Review: Seamus Blake - Guardians of the Heart Machine

Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone, vocals); Tony Tixier (piano); Florent Nisse (double bass); Gautier Garrigue (drums)

(Review by Russell)

In a career spanning the best part of a quarter of a century British born Seamus Blake has recorded several albums as leader or co-leader and contributed to dozens of other recordings. The tenor saxophonist's new release - Guardians of the Heart Machine - is set to take its place in the upper echelons of his body of work to date. 

Blake spent his childhood in Canada, studied at Berklee and relocated to New York to forge a career as a new voice in contemporary jazz. This new CD on Michael Janisch's London-based Whirlwind Recordings label finds the recently relocated tenor saxophonist working with three fine French musicians in his adopted home city of Paris. 

Nine tracks, seven written by band leader Blake, showcase a cast iron technique underpinning improvisatory flights aided and abetted by a first-rate rhythm section. Indeed, to describe pianist Tony Tixier, double bassist Florent Nisse and drummer Gautier Garrigue as a mere backing trio does a disservice to their individual and collective contributions on this 2017 recording. 

One of Blake's stated intentions was to fuse elements of American and European styles on this Paris studio recording session. The band leader sought to incorporate a 'European sensibility, including classical harmony and certain types of groove'. What is evident is the quartet's penchant for a seat-of-the-pants, hard-driving approach which finds Blake running the gamut of keys on his tenor sax.          

Russell    

Seamus Blake's Guardians of the Heart Machine is released tomorrow (March 15) on Whirlwind Recordings, catalogue no. WR4735.