If you thought that cool was no longer a part of the jazz lexicon then you'd better think again.
Sam Braysher is as cool as a crew cut once was, as an ice cold drink still is and yet he is anything but bland. There's warmth too. It's a bit like the enigmatic question as to why we blow on our hands to warm them yet blow on our tea or coffee to cool them? Sam Braysher's like that, he has it both ways!
Tone-wise the sound is related to Konitz, Desmond or early Art Pepper but the application is different. He uses notes and phrases differently. Sometimes sparingly other times with virtuoso flourishes. Seeking to redefine a variety of standards without taking away the essence of the tune whilst still making it his own. If he'd been a singer he'd have done with a lyric what Sinatra did.
With Farmer providing the all important harmonic foundation - sympathetically helped along by Rossy's drumming - we have an album that's easy to listen to but a 1000 miles away from being filed under "Easy Listening".
Rossy also plays vibes on a beautiful rendition of Some Other Spring and marimba on a rather doom-laden version of This Nearly Was Mine.
Incidentally, the finally number, Walking the Dog, is not to be confused with the Stones' Walkin' the Dog. The latter is a Gershwin theme from the movie Shall We Dance. Just goes to show what a difference an apostrophe makes!
In the booklet to the CD Sam has provided what I'm sure are insightful observations on each track. However, as they are printed in very slightly different shades of grey I'll have to wait until I next visit Spec-savers to read them.
But, it's the notes on the album that count rather than the notes in the booklet and, on that score it is highly recommended.
Lance.
PS: When is he going to show up on a livestream?
Available April 23. Pre-order.
For Regulars Only; Heart and Soul; One Note Samba; Some Other Spring; Pintxos (original); Little white Lies; The Sweetest sounds; Reflection; Shall We Dance?; This Nearly Was Mine; Walking the Dog.
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