Tony Kofi
(alto sax); Andy Davies (trumpet); Alex Webb (piano); Andrew Cleyndert
(bass); Alfonso Vitale (drums)
(Review by Chris K)
A storming
romp of a live recording by Tony Kofi, the hard blowing UK alto star paying a
tribute to his inspiration, Cannonball Adderley. Unusually,
although there are CD copies for review, this album is designed for release on
vinyl, so weighs in at a relatively lightweight 35 minutes duration. That’s the
only lightweight thing about it though, as the band waste no time getting stuck
in straight off with two short numbers, A Portrait of
Cannonball and Operation Breadbasket, by Webb and Kofi
respectively. The helter-skelter full-throated solos from Kofi and Davies set
the tone for the rest of the album.
I confess to
a certain disdain for much alto playing in the modern era, preferring the
fuller tone and range of the tenor. This album has banished that notion though
swept aside by Kofi’s famed raw power, with visceral N’awlins squawks and
octave note bending punctuating fluid but high octane solos.
The title
track Another Kind of Soul is the first of Adderley’s canon to get
the Kofi treatment, with a pacy run through of the 1957 bop classic, which is
remarkable for brother Nat’s upper register cornet pyrotechnics, matched by
Kofi and Davies for energy and dexterity. Kofi and co. can turn it
down and play ballads too: a lovely Stars Fell on Alabama evokes
the Coltrane and Cannonball 1964 version.
The band
really hit their stride with the last three Cannonball classics. Things
are Getting Better (1959) comes complete with raucous carousing alto,
a great piano solo from Webb and a solo outing for the immaculate Cleyndert on
bass. The top notch rhythm section also come to the fore catching
the bluesy dance rhythm of Adderley’s immortal 1960 Sack O’ Woe.
And how else
would you close other than with Adderley’s signature Work Song? Often
butchered as a cheesy blues, Kofi’s crew bring this to life in the authentic
hard bop style of the 1960 original, with fine interplay and subtlety
throughout the band.
If
you’re after fine and faithful interpretation of hard bop heaven, this is the
album for you. Regardless of your taste, live they’d be a blast! The
band planned to tour the benighted south, nearest to our northern fastness
being Hull Jazz Festival 17.07.2020.
Chris Kilsby
Release
date: 23 April 2020. Recorded live at Luton’s Bear Club in Nov./Dec. 2019
“The album is
available in limited edition 180gm vinyl — the medium of Adderley’s era
— to best replicate the ambiance of this remarkable live recording, and in
digital format.”
Listen/buy LP or digital (no CD!)
No comments :
Post a Comment