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Sam Newbould Quintet: Blencathra
ByTo carry out his plan, Newbould assembled an international crew of topnotch sidemen from Spain, Israel, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, who first met in 2017 at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, every one of whom is on the same page musically. Newbould's writing, influenced by the likes of Kenny Wheeler, Django Bates and Wayne Shorter, draws inspiration from a number of sources including jazz, English folk music, contemporary classical themes and progressive rock. For its part, Blencathra encompasses Newbould's reminiscences of life growing up in the mysterious yet lovely north of England.
There are seven numbers in all, with the tenebrous curtain raiser, "Ownerless Gardens," briefly reprised mid-album. Newbould's burnished alto sax is showcased on "Gardens," Bernard van Rossum's cool-headed tenor with Newbould on the more gregarious "Mode VI," which follows. The duo then combines to frame the handsome melody on "Northern Quarter" before van Rossum and pianist Tommaso Perazzo unlimber their improvisational chops. Drummer Guy Salamon introduces the bright and fast-moving "Brexit Means Brexit," which comes as close as anything on the menu to "free jazz" (but does no more than nod in that direction) before the group redeems its more introspective persona on "Blencathra" and "Sideways," on the last of which Perazzo forges another admirable solo.
Newbould writes well in a modern and accessible groove, and his teammates are astute and supportive all the way. If there's a conspicuous shortcoming it lies in the album's meager thirty-two-minute running time, which is hard to gloss over and unhappily lowers the album's over-all grade.
Track Listing
Ownerless Gardens; Mode VI; Northern Quarter; Ownerless Gardens (reprise); Brexit Means Brexit; Blencathra; Sideways.
Personnel
Sam Newbould
saxophone, altoSam Newbould: alto saxophone; Bernard van Rossum: tenor saxophone; Teis Serney: guitar; Tommaso Perazzo: piano; Daniel Nagel: bass; Guy Salamon: drums.
Album information
Title: Blencathra | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced
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