Rosie Turton, age 26, is a trombonist in the blossoming alternative London jazz scene. She’s a graduate of Gary Crosby’s Tomorrow’s Warriors and is a band member of the septet, Nérija. Turton also plays with Where Pathways Meet and SE Dub Collective. This is her first album featuring her own quintet. It’s an inventive mix of jazz, hip-hop and Indian classical music. Four of the tracks are originals composed by Turton and the other is an unusual re-arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly”.
There is a spiritual, trance-like feel to the album with echoes of Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. Turton has a dark, majestic tone and her compositions often include dramatic, climactic accelerations. Her impressive trombone soloing in “The Unknown” and “The Purge” brings to mind that of Annie Whitehead’s “The Gathering”. The mesmeric “Stolen Ribs” is based on a Hindustani raga and features ethereal vocals from guest Luke Newman. Stirring violinist Johanna Burnheart and adept pianist Maria Chiara Argirò supply splendid soloing and counter melodies throughout the album. The bass solo from Twm Dylan on the rhythmic, piano-led “Orange Moon” is tiptop. Indeed both he and Jake Long are first-rate at all times with the latter’s calypso style drumming in the opener being particularly notable.
This is an impressive first album from Rosie Turton and I look forward to the next.
Discography
The Unknown; The Purge; Stolen Ribs; Butterfly; Orange Moon (38.56)
Turton (tb); Johanna Burnheart (vn); Maria Chiara Argirò (p, elp); Twm Dylan (b); Jake Long (d) Ben Hayes (syn); Luke Newman (v) Soup Studios, East London, No date supplied.
Jazz Re: Freshed
