Album review: Meraki - Meraki

Jacky Naylor (piano); Nick Jurd (double bass); Jonathan Silk (drums)

I first saw this trio at the Lit & Phil in April 2019 and I was very impressed. So I was delighted to receive their debut eponymous album which was recorded shortly after the culmination of that tour. The CD certainly doesn’t disappoint providing fond memories of that evening just over a year ago.

When a piano trio gets it right there is little better and this outfit has that great knack of taking one on a marvellous journey as the music ebbs and flows with grooves, melodies and intricate passages. It  is hard to single out specific pieces as one tune seems to effortlessly flow into another keeping the mood throughout. Every so often a hot spot is hit which resonates warmly putting one in a place of musical bliss.

The interaction of the 3 players is remarkable as is their skilled playing  - Naylor  is a great pianist, double bassist  Nick Jurd and drummer Jonathan Silk are top soloists in their own right.

There are shades of Nordic jazz in this recording and at times I was reminded of the great Keith Jarrett ‘standards’ trio  but Naylor’s original compositions and the band's interactive musicianship makes this a recording that stands out as a more than worthy addition to the great British contemporary jazz cannon.  

Steve H