This is the NEWJAiM label's 13th offering and is a live recording taken from its parent event The Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music 2021.
I was lucky enough to be in the actual audience for this concert (SEE REVIEW) and I remember thoroughly enjoying the gig at the time and this CD is a wonderful reminder of that great evening, but even for those not present at the Lit and Phil just over a year ago this recording still provides a worthwhile and highly enjoyable listen.
Within each Ellington number selected the core of the tune can be easily identified but the amount of improvisation varies quite dramatically on a tune by tune basis. Opening in pure Ellingtonesque fashion with Prelude to Kiss it floats along before Thomas starts to crank things up in a most exciting fashion.
Black Butterfly is mellow throughout containing some wonderful cascading runs. Creole Love Call has an explosive start and much improvisation. Possibly my favourite Ellington tune is Come Sunday and Pat Thomas gives it the full respect it deserves giving it a fresh twist whilst maintaining its perfect melody.
Drop Me Off In Harlem is a charming vigorous and humorous interpretation. Following on Day Dream is slow and poignant with the occasional thump to make sure you don’t drift off. Rockin' in Rhythm is the most abstract piece on the album and if memory serves me correctly was played entirely using the inner workings of the piano.
The penultimate two tunes Isfahan and Heaven are classic Ellingtonia slow, poignant, mellow and evocative – as good as it gets my notes say. Finally the album ends with a short but triumphant C Jam Blues.
This track based review gives a flavour of what to expect from the individual tunes but is not really the best way to fully appreciate the album which is simply to listen to it as it was experienced on the night - one glorious piece of music from beginning to end full of nuance, intrigue and beauty. Steve H
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