Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon: Strong Tea

First recorded in 2010 and released in 2012 this reissue marks Jim Rattigan's Pavillon 2016/17 tour of the UK. For anyone unfamiliar with Rattigan's work, in addition to several albums released under his own name, he has performed with many leading figures in the jazz world including Michael Brecker, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden and Bill Frisell. He was also a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1989 to 1995.

Pavillon, the French word from which Rattigan's band takes it names, means simply the bell of a wind instrument and specifically in this case, the French horn. Weighing-in at just south of 40 minutes the album was recorded by Rattigan as a 50th birthday present to himself.

Dave Whitford's resonant double bass heralds the opening of "Parkwood Fair" soon joined by Gene Calderzazzo drumming up a storm with Rattigan soloing lengthily on French horn punctuated by a fractured yet powerful ensemble and a bass ostinato figure. The piece culminates in a release of tension in the form of a joyous ensemble climax.

Andy Payani gives a resound tenor solo on the vibrant "Dulwich Park," swiftly followed by Percy Pursglove on rapid-fire flugelhorn. The excitement of the title track is ramped-up further by Steve Fishwick's boisterous trumpet solo

In "Won Over The Eight" Rattigan displays dexterity and imagination in a feisty solo raging over the whole ensemble. The swinging "24/7" is a lively closing number and benefits from a searching baritone saxophone solo by Mick Foster.

In some of the arpeggio-rich ensemble passages the compositions frequently bear a passing resemblance to those of that maestro of the big band Mike Westbrook, not without coincidence since Westbrook's proclivities have always lain with the employment of a wide and colourful range of orchestral textures, but particularly focussing on the brass. The five numbers, all composed by Rattigan, are performed by some of the finest jazz musicians working in Britain today and will most certainly appeal to any lovers of intelligent and original horn-heavy jazz.