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Phil Robson: The Cut Off Point
By"Thief" hits the ground running, with Phil Robson's lithe fast guitar running alongside nimble Hammond lines to carve out the melody and a subsequent brief but enticing organ solo ensues. The pulsating groove of "Second Thoughts" is facilitated by Ross Stanley's Hammond organ and Gene Calderazzo drums, providing a solid backing to Robson's articulate guitar phrasing.
Dave Liebman's "Dimi And The Blue Men" has a spacey feel with echoey, oscillating stereo effects to the fore and even some touches of wah wah guitar before a consolidating theme resolves this captivating piece.
"Vintage Vista" is most redolent of the high energy staccato outbursts first heard on the electrifying Tony Williams' Lifetime albums with John McLaughlin and Larry Young and is all the more engaging for that. By contrast "Astral" is a searching ballad where guitar and Hammond weave their respective bluesy solos.
The title track, a more exploratory Lifetime-esque number, sees Robson on fuzz-laden guitar, taking an altogether more daring approach than previous tracks, culminating in a satisfyingly robust ending. "Berlin" is less frenetic and more measured, taken at a mid-to-fast pace with Calderazzo providing a keen rhythmic accompaniment. "Ming The Merciless" the final number, (all are penned by Robson with the exception of the Liebman track) has the guitarist stretching out with a funkier approach and is replete with blues licks and a sudden ending.
Whilst comparisons with Lifetime or John McLaughlin's 1994 album, After the Rain with Joey DeFrancesco and Elvin Jones may seem inevitable, the vast majority of the music here owes little to these groups. Robson is his own man and this trio has successfully achieved what it set out to do, making for a very satisfying album indeed.
Track Listing
Thief; Second Thoughts; Dimi And The Blue Men; Vintage Vista; Astral; The Cut Off Point; Berlin; Ming The Merciless.
Personnel
Phil Robson
guitarPhil Robson: guitar; Ross Stanley: Hammond organ; Gene Calderazzo: drums.
Album information
Title: The Cut Off Point | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd
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Phil Robson
CD/LP/Track Review
Roger Farbey
Whirlwind Recordings Ltd
United Kingdom
London
Partisans
Julian Siegel
Dave Liebman
Tony Williams
john mclaughlin
Larry Young
Joey DeFrancesco
Elvin Jones
The Cut Off Point