Joshua
Elcock (trumpet); Michael Butcher (tenor sax); Alan Benzie (keyboard); Ben
MacDonald (guitar); David Bowden (bass); Stephen Henderson (drums); Steve
Forman (percussion).
(Review by Hugh C).
Mezcla (meaning “mixture” in Spanish) hail
from Scotland and are led by bassist David Bowden – BBC Young Scottish Jazz
Musician of the Year 2017. The band are
described in the press sheet accompanying this latest CD release as a
“jazz/world fusion ensemble”. Bowden
works primarily in the fields of jazz, folk and contemporary improvised music
and following his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has spent time
studying abroad in Amsterdam and Ghana, as well as being involved in Scottish
music education at all levels.
Shoot the Moon is the culmination of almost three years
of gigging, rehearsing and Mezcla growing as a band. The content is all composed by David Bowden
and the CD (released on the progressive Ubuntu label) is his first major body
of recorded work. The title track, Shoot
the Moon, commences the auditory experience, featuring Fender Rhodes-style
piano from Benzie’s keyboard and antiphonal sparring by Butcher on tenor; an
upbeat number which sets the tone for the CD.
Volta keeps the wick turned up with a funky groove set by
Henderson and Forman in the engine room.
The melodic instruments stretch out over the top. Sami’s Tune features MacDonald on
guitar, retaining the rhythmic drive of the preceding tracks. Auckland Hill takes the tempo
down. As in previous tracks, the drums
and percussion commence and set the initial tone, the other instruments coming
in after a few bars. This track has a
balladic quality, evocative of an open Scottish landscape, perhaps.
A Latin-influenced bass solo from Bowden,
soon joined by percussion and drums, sets the scene for Dinosaur Jump –
these dinosaurs are really having a party!
Our poikilothermic revellers are nowhere to be seen in Winter
Walk. The pace is slow and gentle
with fine tenor saxophone from Butcher underpinned by a sonic tapestry from the
other band members. Akpe has a
distinct Township vibe. Firefly has
an air of mystery and expectation, with percussive crackling in the background,
one is not quite sure which way it is going to go next. Solo trumpet from
Joshua Elcock features here. The CD is
brought to a close with Knockan Crag, which starts as a slow ballad,
metamorphosing into an up tempo romp part-way through.
Shoot the Moon, three years in gestation, delivers a
bundle of joy and is presented to the world this Friday (Feb. 7). The fun the
band are having is palpable throughout and, what’s more, there will be an
opportunity to feel it in a live session at Newcastle Jazz Coop’s Globe Jazz
Bar on July 16.
Hugh
C
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