LIVE REVIEW: The 2021 EFG London Jazz Festival in short reviews BYLONDONJAZZ

Several Ubuntu artists were top picks of the feastival.

Paul Booth’s HOOP at the Spicejazz: The festival finale at SpiceJazz Soho was a scorcher! This high-calibre septet, HOOP (Ubuntu Records) was led by saxophonist, Paul Booth – the line-up speaking for itself: trumpeter Tom Walsh; trombonist Nicol Thomson; guitarist Chris Allard, keyboardist Ross Stanley plus the unbeatable rhythm team of bassist Laurence Cottle and drummer Ian Thomas, purveyed good humour, inspired blowing and tightest of arrangements. (Paul Pace – Music Manager, Spicejazz)

Quentin Collins Sextet (minus Quentin due to illness) at SpiceJazz Soho: Monday night at Spice Jazz, Soho was one of those rare gigs that will stay with me for a long time. A roll call of London’s finest led by Tony Kofi and Leo Richardson (with Deschanel Gordon, Larry Bartley and Winston Clifford), the band played a last-minute show, re-configured at short notice into a tribute to Cannonball, Coltrane & Monk, as if their lives depended on every note. Blindingly energetic and full of joy – I’m still buzzing! (Tara Minton)

Today's Jazz: Quentin Collins Sextet

Today’s Jazz writes, “there’s a sense of a fine project properly realised and accomplished.”

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Road Warrior (Ubuntu Music)

Quentin Collins Sextet

Released September 13, 2019

Jazzwise Top 10 Releases of 2019

YouTube:

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l3_HTP_vGtvVzwAZpGISuRmVH0lZP-xp4

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/1DvDS2zUdzvRIVv3VvrVOi?si=Xv5HtwV4RRa71Sy0vkz34Q

About:

As one of the hardest working and in-demand internationally renowned jazz trumpet players, Collins has formed an all-star band which is a progression of his quintet with alto sax ace, Tom Harrison, which gave birth to the Quentin Collins Sextet.

Collins’ overarching ambition was to record an album, consisting of original material, with the joint collaboration of a select US-based rhythm section and an established UK-based horn section. The end result is a collection of straight-ahead contemporary bop, composed equally by Collins and Harrison.

As a background, Collins met in-demand US pianist Dan Nimmer (Wynton Marsalis) while touring with Kyle Eastwood, a band Collins has been a regular with for years. Collins was so impressed with Nimmer’s playing that he invited him to be a part of the new project. Nimmer graciously accepted the offer, and suggested that the incredible drummer, Willie Jones III from New York City, joined the line-up. In addition, one of Nimmer’s close friends from high school, NY bassist Joe Sanders, rounded out this most impressive roster.

Collins further decided to stretch the front line with young tenor sax sensation, Leo Richardson, whose debut album Quentin produced on the Ubuntu Music record label. By chance, Tom Harrison also went to music college with Richardson, which made the ensemble that much more synchronistic. Meilana Gillard (who was drafted in to play alto on four days’ notice, when injury left Tom Harrison unable to make the recording) completes the line-up.

Harrison asked the iconic Jazz Messenger’s legend, sax titan Jean Toussaint, to join the project in performing on two tracks and to produce the album. Collins, by contrast, asked the multi-talented composer/arranger/musician Troy Miller (Laura Mvula) to mix the album.

As Collins explains, “This music has been a personal journey of self-discovery. It is also a significant collaboration with my great friend, Tom Harrison. Each of our compositions represents a journey–be it spiritual or physical–and all the great wisdom gained along the way. I hope the love that went into the composing and recording process for ‘Road Warrior’ will be equally embraced by all who listen.”

Regarding his relationship with Ubuntu Music, Collins elaborates, “Releasing Road Warrior on Ubuntu is, for me, the perfect next step in my journey with the Label. Having been Artistic Director for its first three years, I know intimately how much care, attention and love Martin Hummel puts into each project. This comes from a deep and long-standing appreciation for music and music makers and makes working together on this album a real joy and thrill.” Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, sums up the project, saying, “Quentin and I have shared a special relationship, as friends and as business partners with a deep mutual respect for the other. I started the Label with Quentin, and Ubuntu’s second release featured Quentin and Brandon Allen in a terrific album. It gives me great joy to extend the relationship further with ‘Road Warrior’, an absolute killer of an album created by Quentin and another good friend, Tom Harrison. This is a must-hear album that brings Quentin to a new level in his career that is much anticipated and long overdue.”

Track Listing:

1. Road Warrior 7:17

2. Float, Flitter, Flutter 6:05

3. Do You Know the Way? 5:30

4. Look Ahead (What Do You See?) 5:46

5. Jasmine Breeze 5:05

6. The Hill 6:22

7. El Farolito 5:56

8. Wider Horizons 7:45

9. Oh! Look At Me Now 5:09

Personnel:

Quentin Collins: trumpet, flugelhorn

Meilana Gillard: alto saxophone

Leo Richardson: tenor saxophone

Dan Nimmer: piano, Fender Rhodes (4)

Joe Sanders: acoustic bass

Willie Jones III: drums

Special Guest

Jean Toussaint: tenor saxophone (5, 7)

Recorded October 30-31, 2018

Produced by: Jean Toussaint

Mixed by: Troy Miller

Review:

Trumpeter Collins assembled a spectacular line-up for this very impressive album, balancing an all-American rhythm section with a strong UK frontline. Many of the pieces are his; others are by saxophonist Tom Harrison, a frequent associate who was unable to make the session, Gillard being his replacement. The mood is post-bop, with an augmented Messengers feel, the writing compact and the execution consistently rewarding. The title-track would fit the Silver-Blakey template exactly and has their kind of momentum, trumpet at the front, crisp and clear, before the impressive Richardson pushes in and Nimmer opens up, bassist Sanders swinging hard. Harrison’s ‘Float, Flitter, Flutter’ allows Collins to show his Hubbard-like inclinations and Gillard to solo affectingly, the hauntingly, hymn-like ‘Look Ahead’ written by Collins for his son quite sublime. Producer Toussaint adds his sinuous tenor to two tracks. Each piece has its own pleasures: above all, there’s a sense of a fine project properly realised and accomplished.

Peter Vacher (Jazzwise)

REVIEW: Leo Richardson Quartet - Live stream from Ronnie Scott's - Sept. 10

Bebop Spoken Here’s Lance Liddle writes, “Possibly the best live stream I've watched yet - from anywhere!”

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Leo Richardson (tenor sax); Rick Simpson (piano); Tim Thornton (bass); Ed Richardson (drums).

Never has the expression hitting the deck running been more apt than tonight at Ronnie's.  The band powered in with such force that they must surely have cut a rut across the stage. Well, maybe not a rut but certainly a groove and this was just the opener!

It was a breathtaking start and one which didn't let up from start to finish apart from a couple of delightful ballads one of which, Elisha's Song, dedicated to Leo's niece almost brought tears to my eyes, such was the emotions conveyed.

All of the numbers, apart from a dedication to Michael Brecker (Michael), were from the band's first two albums which mean't they came to me with a degree of familiarity which most certainly didn't breed contempt!

Quite the opposite! Hearing them live gave that little bit extra insight. Leo is an absolute powerhouse on tenor. There are a lot of great tenor players on the scene these days and Richardson can lock horns and hold his head up high alongside the best of them.

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On piano, Rick Simpson laid down the groundwork for a blue plaque in his home town of Guisborough with solos that matched the leader's intensity - he was burnin'. 

Tim Thornton didn't often put his head above the parapet but when he did it was to deliver a masterclass in jazz bass. 

Ed Richardson may not be Leo's brother but jazz wise he could well be. His no holds barred solo on the Brecker tribute was equalled only by Leo's fiery solo on the same tune. 

This was a night to remember and not just for the fireworks and the mouthwatering references to the exotic Espresso Martini that seemed to be the drink of the day - one of Leo's originals was actually called Martini Shuffle - Enrico's this wasn't!

Possibly the best live stream I've watched yet - from anywhere!

Lance