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GARETH ROBERTS
QUINTET - The attack of the killer penguins
Review by MASSIMO RICCI - www.touchingextremes.org
A good sip of British jazz is what I need when I want to get some
lessons in arrangement and a few moments of inner peace corroborated
by fabulous musicianship. The Gareth Roberts Quintet provides
this and much more in a stunning debut album whose cover is graced
by a greatly funny artwork by Rhys Bevan Jones.
Roberts quotes Charles Mingus and Horace Silver as a compositional
influence, but his music is skilful and personal: it makes you
want to dance but can also bring out memories from childhood.
The quintet is formed by Roberts on trombone, Marcin Wright on
saxes and clarinet, Paul Jones on piano, Chris O'Connor on bass
and Mark O'Connor on drums. These gentlemen play composed meters
like a drink of water (check "Dysgu cifri", that means
"Learning to count", to have an idea), even constructing
a whole piece on something like the 17/8 of the title track. Traditional
melodies like the initial "Wrth fynd efo Deio i Dywyn"
are rearranged in fine manner, themes and solos exposed with witty
consciousness and brilliant tone. In that sense, the intertwining
phrasing of Roberts and Wright is a thing of beauty; one moment
raucous irony prevails, only to be replaced by almost mourning
reflections ("A tribute to an axed piano", "Never
ending journey"). The O'Connors are a refined force of nature
whose interplay does not dare to caress the obvious, but Jones
is maybe the real ace in the hole of the band: his chordal mastery
is a malleable glue for Roberts' harmonies, which try to conjure
up ghosts of Dave Brubeck, McCoy Tyner and Burt Bacharach all
in the space of a single track ("Going nowhere fast"
- incidentally, the superimposition of Roberts' quasi-ostinato
trombone theme on the 5/4 groove of this tune is probably my overall
favourite moment of the record) and constitute the effective link
to an elegant authenticity shining in a class of its own.
When one listens to a new release three times in about ten hours
- which I did here - it usually means we're in presence of something
truly special. I can only be thankful that young players like
these ones still exist, people capable of writing music that's
at one and the same time respectful of the tradition, accessible
and gifted with virtuosity, music that will have you feeling much
better after you've finished listening to it.
GARETH ROBERTS QUINTET - The attack of the killer penguins
(****)
Review by Ian Mann - www.thejazzmann.com
Anyone who has visited Brecon Jazz Festival on a regular basis
will know that there is a vibrant jazz scene in South Wales and
that many fine musicians are based in the area. Among their number
is trombonist Gareth Roberts who released this, his debut recording
as a leader in 2006.
Roberts is a graduate of the jazz course at the Welsh College
Of Music And Drama in Cardiff. This highly regarded course has
produced many fine musicians under the tutelage of Paula Gardiner
and the legendary Keith Tippett. Many have chosen to remain in
the area including pianist Dave Stapleton who last year released
the highly regarded quintet album "When Life Was In Black
And White".
Roberts trained as an engineer and worked as a maths teacher before
becoming a full time musician and perhaps it is these life experiences
that lead him to approach his music with an element of humour.
A sense of fun is apparent throughout this album not only in the
jokey title and the brilliantly quirky and amusing artwork (by
Rhys Bevan Jones) but also in the writing and playing of the music
itself. Roberts and his band mates sound as if they’re having
a ball.
Roberts is joined in the front line by the excellent young saxophonist
and clarinettist Marcin Wright who also appeared on the Dave Stapleton
album alluded to previously. Paul Jones is an inventive soloist
and supportive accompanist at the piano and Chris O’Connor
(bass) and Mark O’ Connor (drums) are an experienced and
dependable rhythm team.
Jones and the O’Connors combined with guitarist Richard
Jones and released the album "Alpha" in 2005 as The
Jones O’Connor Group. Having seen this line up at Brecon
I can confirm that this album is also well worth hearing.
Since "Penguins" was recorded Wright has departed to
live in Italy and his place as a front line soloist in the Roberts
quintet has been taken by the accomplished and versatile trumpeter
Gethin Liddington.I saw this line up play two enjoyable sets at
the recent Lichfield Jazz, Blues and Real Ale Festival. The affable
Roberts led the band through a mixture of standards and his own
original compositions.
On the album however the accent is very much on original writing
with the only outside material being Robert’s arrangement
of the traditional Welsh folk tune "Wrth Fynd Efo Deio I
Dywyn". This kicks off the album and features Roberts’
rasping trombone and Wright’s dancing clarinet as Wales
meets New Orleans with a hint of the Middle East thrown in for
good measure. With swinging support from the rhythm section it
makes for an invigorating and attention-grabbing opener.
"Neverending Journey" is more cinematic in scope, building
from quiet beginnings. Roberts demonstrates both warmth and flexibility
on trombone and there are also quality solos from Wright’s
probing tenor and from Jones on piano.
Each title is accompanied on the cover by an illustration from
Bevan Jones. "Going Nowhere Fast" features a cartoon
dog chasing it’s tail. The music however is wholly engaging
and features more inventive soloing from Jones, Roberts and Wright.
As elsewhere the trombone also fills a rhythmic role with Roberts’
persistent vamping.
In Roberts’ own words the title track has "a B movie
feel and is also extremely silly".It’s also great fun,
and the big band version of the tune as played by the Welsh Jazz
Composers Orchestra on their recent tour must have been quite
something. This features some great horn lines from Roberts and
Wright and pounding piano from Jones. There is yet another monster
trombone solo from the leader and some belligerent blowing from
Wright as the O’Connor boys drive them onward. Stirring
stuff.
"A Tribute To An Axed Piano" represents something of
a pause for breath with muted trombone and feathery soprano combining
with Jones’ delicate piano. The rhythm section also exercises
admirable restraint on this elegiac piece which is the nearest
the album gets to a ballad.
"Mop Dancing" is dedicated to the long-suffering souls
who mop up spilt beer at jazz clubs. It’s a high-spirited
romp of a tune with chunky rhythms, rollicking piano, big toned
tenor and rootsy, bluesy trombone. You really could dance to this
and it must surely be something of a live favourite.
Finally there is "Dysgu Cyfri" (that’s Welsh for
"Learning To Count" and an oblique reference to those
maths teaching days). It keeps up the jaunty pace and is similar
in feel to the album’s opener with Wright’s energetic
clarinet playing once more to the fore. There’s more of
the leader’s agile and spirited trombone and some snappy
drum breaks from Mark O’Connor on this brisk breeze of a
tune.
This is a very impressive debut recording from the quintet. Roberts’
writing is imaginative and intelligent but he never takes himself
too seriously. As a result there is hardly a dull moment on the
album and the band’s real sense of enjoyment communicates
itself to the listener. Even the cover makes you laugh.
I must admit that I’m not normally a big fan of the trombone
but I found Roberts’ playing to be consistently engaging
and enjoyable and the other members of the group are equally impressive.
The interplay between the horns of Roberts and Wright is particularly
worthy of mention.
Roberts is one busy guy. A visit to his excellent website www.garethtrombone.co.uk
suggests that he is in even more bands than Seb Rochford.
At this years Brecon Jazz Festival he will appear on the Stroller
programme not only with his quintet, but also with cult heroes
and festival regulars The Heavy Quartet, plus the marvellously
named Welsh Latin combo Buena Risca Social Club. Gareth was impressed
that I, a mere Englishman, actually got the joke.
A full list of gigs, biographical and band details plus a discography
are all on his highly informative site.
GARETH ROBERTS QUINTET - The attack of the killer penguins
Review by Malcolm Lewis - Planet
Magazine
Trombonist (and ex-Cardiff postgrad) Gareth Roberts uses the
O’Connor rhythm section plus pianist Paul Jones in his Gareth
Roberts Quintet. His writing, and the band’s playing are,
as the title of their debut album “The Attack of the Killer
Penguins“ suggests, tremendous fun. If you think of jazz
and the trombone you probably think of trad and bowler hats. Roberts’
party animals wouldn’t give a damn and could wear bowlers
upside down, dance all the way from Cardiff to Brecon, and not
miss a note. They’re tight and bright, and fast and loose
with the old school stuff.
The rollicking “Wrth Fynd efo Deio i Dywyn”, based
on a folk tune, kicks off the album slowly, then hits it between
New Orleans, Cairo and Caergwili. “Dysgu Cyfri (learning
to count)” which closes it, has the same upbeat oomph and
lovely interplay between Roberts, Marcin Wright on clarinet, and
Jones. “Neverending Journey” has a sad edge to it
and the beautiful, balladic “A Tribute to an axed piano”
is quiet, delicate, even funereal. But hey, play most of this
album loud and torture yourself by trying not to move a muscle.
It’s impossible! Your eyelid will start twitching, your
leg will kick – and you’re away…
Live Review- GARETH ROBERTS QUINTET- Cafe Jazz-Cardiff,
Thursday September 11, 2008 (****)
Review by Ian Mann - www.thejazzmann.com
Trombonist Gareth Roberts is something of a Jazzmann favourite.
“Attack Of The Killer Penguins”, the quintet’s
excellent 2006 debut is reviewed elsewhere on this site. Behind
the jokey title there is some seriously talented writing and musicianship.
Roberts may like to inject a sense of humour into his music but
this is positively refreshing and the quintet have built a considerable
reputation for their excellent live work.
A well attended hometown gig saw Roberts produce two enjoyable
sets of originals, mixing “Penguins” tunes with newer
as yet unrecorded material. He was joined in the front line by
Gethin Liddington on trumpet and a rather distinctive four valved
flugel horn. Paul Jones was outstanding on piano and the O’Connor
brothers, Chris (bass) and Mark (drums) were a formidable rhyhthm
pairing. Liddington has now been with the band for over a year
having replaced saxophonist Marcin Wright who appears on the album.
The new material has been written with Liddington in mind and
the group hope to record a new album in early 2009. The new tunes
featured tonight covered a broad range of styles from the infectious
“Shaky Leg Syndrome” to the ballad “Searching”
(English translation).
From “Penguins” came the enervating “Mop Dancing”
and the 5/4 “Going Nowhere Fast” plus the haunting
“A Tribute To An Axed Piano”, a beautiful tune hiding
behind a facetious title.
Roberts likes to incorporate jazz arrangements of traditional
Welsh folk tunes into his repertoire and tonight featured a fresh
arrangement of “The Mother In Law’s Complaint”.
However it was a rollicking “Wrth Fynd Efo Deio I Dywyn”
(from “Penguins”) that really brought the house down
as the band closed the second set. They were called back for an
encore, the only outside tune of the night ,Abdullah Ibrahim’s
“Mandela”.
Now I’ll admit that I’ve never been a big fan of the
trombone but I love Roberts’ playing. Nimble and inventive
he seems to bring out the best in the instrument, from gutbucket
slides and rasps on the up tempo material to a surprising tenderness
on ballads. He makes good use of the mute to expand his sound
and plays with great physical resourcefulness plus a sense of
humour to augment all that technique. He’s a capable writer
too, taking his inspiration from the great Charles Mingus.
Liddington is an excellent foil with a similarly expressive range
from brassy trumpet to velvety flugel. When the two brass men
link up their unison lines are uplifting but there are also examples
of intriguing counterpoint with the two horns playing off each
other.
Paul Jones is a superb pianist and contributed several dazzling,
almost scene stealing solos as well as performing superbly as
an accompanist. It was good to hear him exclusively on acoustic
piano after recent sightings on electric keyboards with the Jones
O’Connor group. The swing and drive of the O’Connors
also added greatly to an enjoyable night’s music. Both enjoyed
short solo features over the course of the evening.
Other Reviews:-
"A treat, Thoroughly Recommended" :- The Trombonist
Magazine
"Gareth plays trombone with a strong sense of the trombone
tradition...able to move effortlessly from the past to present,
and definitely one to watch for the future" :- Dennis Rollins
- Winner of the BBC award for best jazz band 2006
"A buoyantly groove-centred recording (***) " :- Jazzwise
Magazine
"Gareth Roberts' lusty quintet got the first weekend of
the London Jazz Festival off to a flying start with a Mingus-
like ferocity and
even a nod to Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer" :- Jazz UK
"Original, unique, exciting but very listenable jazz"
:- Brian Petty, Lichfield Jazz Festival Programme 2007
" A great five piece unit, fiery and passionate brass playing
at its very best." :- Peter Scaddan
www.black-mountain-jazz.org.uk
"Welsh Jazz Trombonist Gareth Roberts is making waves in
the local jazz scene" :- The Big Issue
"South Wales saxman Roberts leads his piano trio" :-
Cardiff Metro 01/09/07
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