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Allison Neale: I Wished On The Moon
ByNeale, born in the USA when her British father was working for Boeing in Seattle, returned to the UK as a young child. Her father's love of jazz meant that the West Coast followed her back to EnglandStan Getz and Paul Desmond were early influences, followed by Art Pepper and Lee Konitz. She's still a major fan of West Coast saxophonists and also cites a diverse array of players including Frank Wess, John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery among her favorites.
British jazz writer Dave Gelly described Neale's alto tone as "so light and airy that it melts at the edges." It's a memorable turn of phrase, but it would be a mistake to infer that there's any hint of weakness or frippery in her playing. Neale swingsif she didn't she'd sound very out of place alongside her fellow musiciansand her playing exudes a quiet confidence. She's confident in her approach to recording as well"the old fashioned way" as she puts it, one take, straight to tape.
To complete the band on I Wished On The Moon, Neale has the effortlessly swinging drummer Steve Brown and bassist Julian Bury and the elegant pianist Leon Greening. Vibes player Nathaniel Steele is a most welcome guestthe bright, sparkling, sound of Greening's piano and Steele's vibes forms the perfect complement to Neale's alto.
Brown's swinging drumming opens "I Wished On The Moon." Neale enters four bars in: the lightness of tone is immediately apparent but Neale's soon soloing and it's obvious that there's strength and imagination underpinning her phrasingshe matches Brown's power and flair when they trade fours. The melodic "How Little We Know" is beautifully crafted, Neale and Greening's solos building from and exploring the melody imaginatively. Pepper's "Chilli Pepper" fliesSteele adding another layer of sound to this joyous rendition. Marty Paich's "Sidewinder" is similarly speedy, with Neale, Greening and Steele all soloing with verve. The up-tempo swing of Cole Porter's "So In Love," driven with precision by Brown and Bury, closes proceedings on a high.
Track Listing
I Wished On The Moon; How Little We Know; Chilli Pepper; Resonant Emotions; You're Looking At Me; 317 East 32nd St; Sidewinder; The Breeze And I; The Night We Called It A Day; So In Love.
Personnel
Allison Neale: alto saxophone; Leon Greening: piano; Julian Bury: double bass; Steve Brown: drums; Nathaniel Steele: vibraphone (3, 4, 6, 7).
Album information
Title: I Wished On The Moon | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Trio Records