Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Better Than TV: Late

223

Better Than TV: Late

By

Sign in to view read count
Better Than TV: Late
Five students from Cambridge (UK) recorded this debut album over two sessions, six months apart. The first session from 10 June 2013 opens with "1000 And One" on an ostinato bass figure and relaxed McCoy Tyner-esque piano. This is a relatively straightforward modal piece but with some engaging solos from the brass section and some. By contrast, "Standing With Sally" introduces some memorable funky rhythms and ensemble passages. "Elliulogy" opens just with the horns, New Orleans style; a bluesy number carefully crafted and includes some excellent piano soloing.

"Morse" elicits some adventurous trumpet soloing from Gavin Spence and David Burgoyne again presents some confident piano soloing over the horn sections. The piano again dominates with a minor chord vamp on "pm" and is excitingly rejoined by short solos from the horns.

From the second recording session (from 8 December 2013) "FEAB" has a melancholic feel, vaguely reminiscent of the opening to Gary Burton's A Genuine Tong Funeral, with the trombone leading the lugubrious melody and dirge-like responses from the ensemble. "Samba Per Mi" evokes late period Ian Carr's Nucleus, the snake-like themes enveloping a more relaxed and fluid piano solo. "Se Volete" is centred on a robust riff anchored by the bass guitar, with again, shades of Nucleus or maybe even the late-lamented British jazz rock quintet Landscape.

Finally, the title track sports an upbeat medium-to-fast tempo fuelled by Ed Blake's keen drumming, and adorned by a repeated irresistible riff. However, although ostensibly the ultimate track on the album, following its conclusion and with a gap of some twenty seconds, there's an unadvertised "encore" of sorts, with a six minute alternate take of "Standing With Sally."

The two sessions documented were recorded "live" -minus an actual audience -in a recital room at Churchill College, Cambridge (UK) which has facilities for recording and a good piano. The net result is sonically nearer to a gig recording than a studio one, the sound is slightly muddy at times, more so on the second session, but on the upside, the compositions (all penned by bassist Sergio Contrino), arrangements and performances are first class.

Track Listing

1000 And One; Standing With Sally; Elliulogy; Morse; pm; FEAB; Samba Per Mi; Se Volete; Late (plus alternate take of Standing With Sally)

Personnel

better than TV
band / ensemble / orchestra

David Burgoyne: piano; Ed Blake: drums; Gavin Spence: trumpet/flugelhorn; Sergio Contrino: bass guitar; Tom Green: trombone

Album information

Title: Late | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.