(Review by Lance).
McAlmont,
I’m ashamed to admit, is a new name to me. However, discovering that The Independent described him as "British pop's best kept secret" gave me the consolation of not being alone in my ignorance and, on the strength of what's laid down here I'll do my best to ensure McAlmont's no secret any more.
An intriguing voice, higher pitched than your average jazzman's vocal chords - at first hearing I was gender confused and the fact that he recently did a live interpretation of Billie Holiday's songs muddied the waters even further. However, listening again all doubts were banished and I realised I was listening to one of the more original (and pleasing) male voices of recent years. Where has he been hiding?
Teaming up with Alex Webb, himself one of the UK's outstanding pianists and composers, makes for an ideal partnership. Ten of the songs are by Webb two of which are co-written with the singer. Other items include Queen's Love of my Life, The Beatles' I'm So Tired and Suede's The Wild Ones.
McAlmont and Suede's Bernard Butler also formed a duo - McAlmont and Butler - who made their mark back in the 1990's, early 2000's.
The Last Bohemians is described as a love letter to the jazz life. A life most of us have lived either at the mouthpiece end or at the end of a horn player's bell. If you're reading this page you've done it for real or by proxy. The music takes the listener along a journey. An adventure that maybe began in London at The Flamingo (depicted on the inner cover) or maybe The Down Beat in Newcastle or any of the dives, anywhere in the world, that we sought out to sate our passion for the music.
That journey is portrayed in all its tarnished glory by the contributions from Tony Kofi's sax playing, Andy Davies' trumpet playing, a sympathetic rhythm section and, most of all, by McAlmont and Webb.
Lance.
Release date November 22. Launch at Hampstead Jazz Club on November 19 - details.
David McAlmont (vocals); Alex Webb (piano/MD); Andrew Cleyndert/Jihad Darwish (bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums/perc.); Jonathan Preiss (guitar); Tony Kofi (soprano/alto/tenor saxes); Andy Davies (trumpet/flugelhorn); Alex Balanescu, Julian Tear (violins); Katie Wilkinson (viola); Dave Daniels (cello).
Teaming up with Alex Webb, himself one of the UK's outstanding pianists and composers, makes for an ideal partnership. Ten of the songs are by Webb two of which are co-written with the singer. Other items include Queen's Love of my Life, The Beatles' I'm So Tired and Suede's The Wild Ones.
McAlmont and Suede's Bernard Butler also formed a duo - McAlmont and Butler - who made their mark back in the 1990's, early 2000's.
The Last Bohemians is described as a love letter to the jazz life. A life most of us have lived either at the mouthpiece end or at the end of a horn player's bell. If you're reading this page you've done it for real or by proxy. The music takes the listener along a journey. An adventure that maybe began in London at The Flamingo (depicted on the inner cover) or maybe The Down Beat in Newcastle or any of the dives, anywhere in the world, that we sought out to sate our passion for the music.
That journey is portrayed in all its tarnished glory by the contributions from Tony Kofi's sax playing, Andy Davies' trumpet playing, a sympathetic rhythm section and, most of all, by McAlmont and Webb.
Lance.
Release date November 22. Launch at Hampstead Jazz Club on November 19 - details.
David McAlmont (vocals); Alex Webb (piano/MD); Andrew Cleyndert/Jihad Darwish (bass); Peter Adam Hill (drums/perc.); Jonathan Preiss (guitar); Tony Kofi (soprano/alto/tenor saxes); Andy Davies (trumpet/flugelhorn); Alex Balanescu, Julian Tear (violins); Katie Wilkinson (viola); Dave Daniels (cello).
No comments :
Post a Comment