Jason McDermid arranged all eleven tracks and played trumpet on seven of them. However, the actual leader is drummer Carl Gorham who just happens to be the late Sir George's nephew. More family connections with the great man come via his niece, Romy Sipek, who delivers a fine Lullaby of Birdland.
The album is an excellent celebration of the UK's first great jazz export. Although all of the tracks were composed by or associated with Sir George, McDermid makes no attempt to recreate the Shearing sound even with Kerr on vibes. Instead he brings it forward by maybe six or seven decades and provides a platform for some great blowing.
Pete Long is in fine form. Delicate clarinet, booting baritone - he takes From Rags to Richards there and back again - tenor and alto too are also well featured - great sound. Talking about great sounds, Alistair White plays some punchy, Trummy, trombone throughout.
Pianists Pearson and Wallace fit in well with Wallace, unsurprisingly, the perfect accompanist for Sarah Moule's vocals on Let's Live Again and Midnight Mood. There's also a couple of tasty vocals from Louise Marshall on Let There be Love and Easy.
The final track, Rondo, sees the horns slugging it out over Satin Singh's congas. This was something that must surely be seen as well as heard and the good news is that if you happen to be in Holt, Norfolk on Sept. 5, the Stables, Milton Keynes on Sept. 7 or Ronnie's on Sept. 10 for the album launch you're in luck otherwise ... Lance
PS: I keep reading about this 'Red Wall'. I sometimes think there's also a 'Jazz Wall'.
Available from Ubuntu Music on Sept. 1 on CD, digital and vinyl.
Conception; Let's Live Again; From Rags to Richards; Let There be Love; The Fourth Deuce; Easy; Night Flight; Lullaby of Birdland; Children's Waltz; Midnight Mood; Rondo
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