Myra Brownbridge: The Voyage Out

First albums are not the end-all-be-all, but they certainly count for something. London bassist Myra Brownbridge crafts a strong debut that shows a younger musician with spirit and intuition. The Voyage Out delivers softer melodies that still have a groove to them. With guitarist Tom Ollendorff, George Garford on alto sax and Matthew Holmes on drums, the quartet plays together with ease. Striking the right balance between instrumental solos, providing a clear tune to follow and a variety in compositional structure can be hard, but the team finds their stride and keeps it. Brownbridge leads well, and her original songs shine on this release.

"Weathering the Storm" is a fine piece. Bossa nova-inspired, it gets going right off the bat. Ollendorff keeps the beat while still finding time to slip into more freestyling and melodic passages, and Garford jumps in with saxophone, adding a layer on top that moves freely without getting too crazy or distracting. Though the piece is over seven minutes (which is not that long for something on a jazz album), it does not lag or sag. The beat and rhythm propel the track forward, and the musicians are creative enough to engage the listener throughout.

Halfway into the release, "As Dreams Are Made" turns on a John Coltrane-esque tone. The track features saxophonist Tony Kofi who strengthens this musical homage. It is a beautiful piece that sustains the overall calmer atmosphere of this project. The delicate dance of the sax and guitar fills the space while bass and drums sit back to provide a nice backing layer. Garford joins in later on, duetting with Kofi consciously, not overpowering the other. Brownbridge has worked with the Kofi before, having played with his band around the UK. Occasionally, featured artists can seem overly spotlighted, but the saxophonist fits in with the quartet and provides a lovely shape and sound to the song.

For a release that has been purely instrumental so far, some might be surprised by the last track, "Icarus." Brownbridge proves that she not only knows how to strum some strings but that she can also carry a tune vocally. Vaguely husky in a Jessica Pratt sort of way, the bandleader sings in good form. Matching the tone of the previous pieces, it also adds its own emotional depth, a melancholy sad-happy to finish off with.

Just because a song is quiet does not mean it lacks energy or spark. Brownbridge turns up the quiet without turning down the excitement. The Voyage Out, which gets its name from British author Virginia Woolf's 1915 novel, arrests attention but does not demand too much from its listeners. If this is anything to go by, Brownbridge's next album cannot come out soon enough.

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