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Alison Rayner Quintet: SEMA4
by Neil Duggan
Live albums offer a snapshot of a band at a particular time, sometimes capturing them at their peak, when the adrenaline is flowing and the group's energy and cohesion are at their best. SEMA4 by the Alison Rayner Quintet (also known as ARQ) is such an album. It was recorded live at the Vortex Jazz Club in East London in mid-2024. Having previously released three albums on the Blow The Fuse label: August (2014), A Magic Life (2016) ...
Continue ReadingThreeway with special guest John Etheridge: Harken!
by Neil Duggan
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Threeway. This chamber jazz trio without drums consists of bassist Ben Crosland, pianist Steve Lodder and Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn. They have released three previous albums on the Jazz Cat label: Conversations (2005), Songs of the Year (2009) and Looking Forward, Looking Back (2013). For this recording, they have recruited guitarist John Etheridge. Between them, the four musicians have extensive experience, having played with artists as diverse as Carla Bley, Mal Waldron, ...
Continue ReadingAlison Rayner Quintet: Short Stories
by Chris May
The Alison Rayner Quintet's third album is good medicine. Despite the sad events which inspired it, about which more in a moment, Short Stories tells its tales through strong melodies, sinewy rhythms and luminous solos, is by turns tender and exuberant, has an uplifting narrative arc, and simply makes you feel better for listening to it. Rayner has been a hero of British jazz since the mid 1980s when, with ARQ's guitarist, Deirdre Cartwright, she was a member ...
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