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Weekly Reviews For December 11, 2005

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The Mike Murley Quintet – Extra Time

Another excellent set of material from Canadian jazz saxophonist Mike Murley.

Working in a bop environment the seven original compositions on offer are all worth your attention, but are really there to serve as a springboard for the solos which go from the good to the excellent.

The highlights are the free jazz of “The Split 2” and the ballads “Santiago Reflections” and “Open Segment” where the solos and the compositions mesh best with some exempary performances from Murley, John MacLeod on trumpet and flugelhorn, pianist Dave Restivo, bassist Jim Vivian and drummer Ted Warren.

Will Fell – same


For some reason comparisons have been made between Will Fell and The Smiths, Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. Which, if it were true, would have had this CD hurled from the highest tower in the land to shatter in a million pieces, each to be picked up by individual, mute, hireling who would transport the individual pieces to a million different locations far from human eyes and buried out of sight, followed by the self inflicted death of each hireling.

But it isn't. Which has saved me a fortune in hireling expenditure. He has, however, put together a set of elegant and heartfelt alternative rock songs, ably performed by a band steeped in the world of jazz, who've put their talents into converting melodies for the masses.

It's all topped off by a remarkable voice (and that's probably where the Buckley comparisons come from) minus the histrionics of said drowned bloke. It's a sound that could take off, as he has the songs to take him places.

Eileina Williams – Introducing

Another jazz singer working their way through a set of standards. It's difficult to stand out in a crowded field, but in places Eileina Williams manages just that.
Taking on songs like "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and "Willow Weep For Me" is asking for trouble if you haven't got the chops, but when the song, voice and arrangements come together, as they do on the aforementioned numbers, it's a delight to listen to. Of course with a background in the London Community Gospel Choir and session work with the likes of Randy Crawford and Paul Young, Eilena was never going to be a slouch in the voice department.

The twelve songs on the album were rattled out in two days, so hats off to Eileina and Shelly Berg (piano), Darek Oles (bass) and Kendall Kay (drums) for putting most modern musicians to shame.

Richard Underhill – Tales From The Blue Lounge

This is the debut instrumental jazz release from Richard Underhill, founder of the almost legendary, always unpredictable Shuffle Demons (previously reviewed in these here pages) and this album has already won a Juno award, Canada' s version of the Grammys. SO, there's little point in me carrying on. But I will, as is my wont.

There are ten original compositions on offer, harking back to the days of Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus, but taking the themes of the past and making them relevant for today. Of course, it's old school flavour may be related to the fact that it was recorded live off the floor onto two-inch tape with classic equipment. It really takes flight when the band get a bit edgy as they do on "The Old Guys" and "Chillin' ", my two particular favourites.

A delight from beginning to end, it deserves all the plaudits thrown its way.

Gemma Hayes - Happy Sad

As delightful as this is, I can't help think that some of the rough edges that made her earlier songs so appealing seem to have been rubbed away.

It's a long way from Tipperary to Los Angeles (but worth it for the sake of writing that line) and I wonder if the glitz and the glamour hasn't rubbed off some of the personality that enamoured me last time around. However, this is still miles ahead of most of her so called competitiors and if she can attract a fraction of the KT Tunstall market, success should be assured.

The harmonies are delightful and the B-side "Holy Places" is more like her old self. You should buy it.