What a gem, although those who heard the Joe Webb Trio (different line-up) at Newcastle's Lit & Phil in 2021 won't need convincing! On that memorable afternoon they pulled a standing ovation for their take on the Art Tatum Trio.
With Hamstrings & Hurricanes Tatum is returned to the pages of the jazz history books, his immortality secure, and we see a different side of Joe Webb - a pianist who, irrespective of stylistic contrasts, is a worthy successor to all of his pianist predecessors. That his current inspiration lies in the Britpop of the 1990s doesn't matter - the music goes all round the world and it comes out as jazz.
An awesome technique, a sense of musical humour and a composer of tunes that grab you from the first note. Many of the titles relate to his Welsh heritage apart from Fats Waller's Squeeze Me and his strange dedication to Newcastle. Newcastle Full Feel is a dark and powerful number with a feeling of impending doom. Maybe there was a thunder storm on his last visit and Bruno had strained a hamstring hence the album title. I don't think the fans (occasionally) singing at the Gallowgate End will be adopting it as a Toon anthem but maybe they should - take their minds off the game.
A highly recommended album recorded by a totally unique and compelling pianist, sympathetically supported by Sach and Jesson, two of the best around. Lance
Beth Yn Galw; P.I.P; 2850; 100 Years of Bill & Lil; Some Jesson; Curveball; Brevddwyd Cariad; Hamstrings and Hurricanes; Waiting in Eb; Newcastle Full Feel; Somedays; Squeeze Me; Hiraeth
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