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Big Screen - Take One - Jazzwise

It's funny how an unapologetically glossy traditional piano trio take on popular TV and film themes can start to sound quite refreshing after experiencing a lot of what's known as contemporary piano trio jazz. But that's the case with Big Screen's Take One, a new album by a trio of three high-calibre musicians, very well versed in straight ahead swing. They are the veteran Scottish pianist Dave Newton, and younger rhythm section of the Empirical bassist Tom Farmer and drummer-leader Matt Skelton, whose heart ls closest to the project being the drummer in the film score specialist arranger John Wilson Orchestra. The trio swing their way economically through a set of songs mostly from Broadway movie musicals, bar a version of 'Chariots of Fire' where the emphasis is on a subtle re-harmonisation of the well-known melody, something that would test the patience of a band like The Bad Plus. A pair of ballads Randy Newman's 'When She Loved Me' and Lionel Bart's 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' round off the album, shot through with a subtle dose of Americana but no less elegant for it. A perfect fit for Jazz FM's Dinner Jazz slot you could say. But this is a classy showing and Linn's high quality production values back it all the way. 

Jazzwise
01 June 2015