Miles Pillinger: Belonging

Belonging is the debut album from Manchester-born drummer and composer Miles Pillinger. Since graduating from Leeds Conservatoire, Pillinger has rapidly established himself on the UK jazz scene, and this recording introduces a confident musician with a strong rhythmic sensibility and a clear sense of his musical influences.

Joining Pillinger to form his core quintet ensemble for this recording are fellow Conservatoire graduate Olivia Cuttill (trumpet), Tom Harris (piano), Benny Sandler (saxophones, flute) and Josh Vadiveloo on bass. There are also guest appearances from Emma Marsh (percussion), Thandanani Gumede (vocals) and Helen Pillinger (tenor saxophone).

All nine tracks are originals, frequently reflecting his South African and Brazilian influences with nods to others who have shaped his approach. The opening track, "Olinda Meu Amor," immediately turns the spotlight on Brazil, drawing inspiration from the culture and rhythms of Olinda and Recife, neighboring towns in the country's northeast. The interplay is tight from the outset, with Pillinger and Vadiveloo driving the lively, bustling rhythms and laying the foundations for solos from trumpet, saxophone and piano.

Pillinger and Marsh form a persuasive partnership on "I'm Not Serious," underpinning more subtle contributions from their bandmates. This is followed by "Elvin's Beat," a tribute to one of Pillinger's key influences, Elvin Jones. Pillinger pushes the music along with verve, while Cuttill's sassy trumpet makes a striking impression. "Beryl" keeps things in the family, featuring a tenor saxophone contribution from Pillinger's mother, Helen, in a tune dedicated to his grandmother.

Gumede features on the album's title track, which stands somewhat apart from the surrounding material and interrupts the album's otherwise cohesive flow. "Momentary Peace" restores the momentum, combining a strong bass foundation with fine interplay between trumpet and saxophone. Pillinger moves deftly between a steady pulse and more bracing rhythmic turbulence.

"The Other Other Side" and "The Other Side" serve as companion pieces to close the album. The former takes a more improvisational approach, while the latter adopts a gentler mood, with Sandler's flute dancing between trumpet and bass.

As a showcase for Pillinger's drumming skills, the album completely hits the mark as he draws out grooves and rhythmic nuances aplenty. While some of the more freer passages are less engaging, there is an underlying celebratory feel to much of the album, which adds to the appeal and makes this a debut that holds considerable future promise.