Jon Lloyd Quintet - Brighton Jazz Club

First time I have come across Jon Lloyd although he has been around for some time. Currently doing a Jazz Services tour and fortunately BJC is on the circuit. With John Law and Asaf Sirkis in the band I knew it would not be a wasted night. They only play with the best and are worth going to hear in their own right. Jon has had Mark Sanders and Paul Rogers in previous bands so I was expecting something at the end of free improvisation. The music was more European than American in style (if those categories hold any more) moving between floating ECM type soundscapes and groove based extended improvisations. The excellent guitar and bass guitarists gave the band a full and locked in sound. Jon's coruscating lines made the music float and soar. His use of space and dynamics was effective and he had a number of musical conversations with John Law. In fact the band was very much that, a band, rather than just a collection of great improvisors. His compositions, arrangements and use of sop and bass clarinet reminded me strongly of John Surman but this band also built intensity through complex groove structures and extended modal improvisations. Asaf, who also plays with the likes of Tim Garland and Gillad Atzmon, drove the music with his musical and imaginative drumming along with Rodney Teague, the bass guitarist who played riffs rather than walking. Rob Palmer on guitar used effects pedals well giving the music ambience and John Law huddled at the back of the stage using sequences and recordings, as well as playing piano, to further embellish the music with effects.

As with so much jazz it is so much better live. The CD for sale at the gig is well worth the £6 but is typical of many jazz CDs in that it was produced before the start of a tour to promote the music and does not reflect the way the live music has matured as the band members have developed it over a period of gigging. Jon really should do a live double album at the end of the tour. Fabulous stuff.
http://www.myspace.com/jonlloydmusic

Swanage Jazz Festival

I caught the Dave Stapleton Quintet at the Swanage Jazz Festival on the weekend. Fantastic. Blew me away. Some really new composition and firework performances. Check them out on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBB_KqDsAt8 A new band "Aquarium" also took the festival by storm. Four of us went on a last minute whim. Will organise a bigger group next year.

Back Door Too played. A trio of Bass, Sax and Drums. The original band (Back Door) started in the late 60's and was one of the first jazz rock outfits. Unusual because of the line up and Colin Hodgkinson often played lead on his bass guitar. I met Colin in the Bar after their gig and bought a CD. I had the original Back Door albums on vinyl which Colin told me were probably worth a few bob now. Shame I gave all my viynl away last year. Still regret it but never played them even though I have a Rega turntable. Ron Asprey was the original sax player. He lived in Saltdean near Brighton and I saw play live at Brighton Jazz Club once, died a few years ago as did Tony Hicks the drummer - leaving one. John Peal used to play them regularly. Good to see that Colin is making the proect happen again as this was a seminal late 60's jazz rock outfit. There is a good interview with Colin on Cultural Foundation website.

Also Saw John Law trio. Have his four albums. Very Jarrett influenced from his 80s period, which is good. Is playing as part of the Jon Lloyd Quintet at Brighton Jazz Club tonight. Should be a treat.

Brecon Jazz Festival

A great line up this year at Brecon. Will be my first foray there. Dave Stapleton Quintet to kick it off and very cheap ticket prices. Tons of more contemporary and some scandinavian stuff too.

Tigran Hamasyan

This piano player is Armenian and has played with some of the top international jazz artists and yet is still in his early / mid 20s. All compositions are his own and the quality of playing and arrangements is right up there. Comes to jazz from listening to rock. Strong grooves, great arrangements, fabulous drumming and piano playing. Jazz that really rocks. Two albums, New Era and Red Hail and both are cracking. Red Hail has female vocals. Great voice but for me does not add anything. Probably makes the music more commercially viable though. Thanks to radio FIP for bringing this one to my attention.

Dave Stapleton Quintet

Been listening to all three albums, downloadable from www.emusic. com. Great groove based compositions with fabulous solos, particularly from the two young but virtuoso horns, Jonny Bruce and Ben Waghorn. And so young. the future of jazz in the UK? I hope so. Caught the band live at Swanage and have bought tickets to see them at Brecon in a couple of weeks time. Thanks to the Jazzwise cover disc a few months ago where the DSQ track really stood out. Dave Stapleton also runs the EQ jazz label. What a talent.