ALL THAT JAZZ

BY SIMON ADAMS

REVIEWS

THOMAS STRØNEN Bayou (ECM).

Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen’s work is nicely compartmentalised: his Food collaboration with saxophonist Iain Ballamy emphasises electronics, while the more recent Time Is A Blind Guide is an acoustic chamber ensemble. Bayou takes him in another direction, a freely improvisational trio “drifting between elements of contemporary classical music, folk music, jazz, whatever we were inspired by”, as Strønen remarks. Everything here is created collectively, in the moment. The exception is the title piece, which is based on a traditional Norwegian folk tune and which unfurls in the quietest possible way. Its two versions are distinguished by the beautifully phrased vocals of Marthe Lea, herself first and foremost a clarinettist who has rarely sung before. Pianist Ayumi Tanaka, a classical pianist coming recently to improvisation, is an occasional contributor, presenting pools of sound the others use to reflect their own contributions. This might be rarefied music-making, but it is also very beautiful and thoughtful. Another fine Strønen project.

RICHARD X BENNETT RXB3 (Ubuntu).

Brooklyn-based pianist Richard Bennett describes his music as “bounce jazz”, and while that shouts cliché, it's a surprisingly accurate label, for each track verily bounces along with wit and energy. His approach is one of “theme and destruction”, the individual piano patterns for each song creating the melodies that are then tested to destruction. Buildup, destroy, and then “listen closer and you will hear jazz, contemporary classical and India raga elements threaded throughout”, for Bennett has a solid jazz grounding and has also performed and recorded in India. This might sound unnecessarily complex, but Bennett and his trio are first and foremost extremely accessible. Long-term collaborator Adam Armstrong is solid on bass, newcomer Julian Edmond on drums, originally from a gospel background, a fittingly funky partner to the pianist. Bennett is a new name to me, but it’s good to get to know his pneumatic music.

B.B. KING Four Classic Albums Plus, Second Set (Avid).

Blues guitarist B.B. King’s recording career began with two compilations albums filled with singles in 1956 and 1958 before he released his first proper album in 1959. This fine set contains four of his earliest albums, dating from 1959 to 1962. B.B. King Sings Spirituals is a bit of mismatch, the secular bluesman backed by gospel choirs, but the Hammond organist is great and thank God for the songs. King of the Blues is much better, showcasing King’s inherent feel for the blues and his plaintive, unhurried guitar lines courtesy of Lucille all over every track. More B.B. King is actually less, as the sound of rock & roll bandwagon-jumping obliterates everything, but the all-instrumental Easy Listening Blues is just sublime.