The Jazz Defenders: Scheming

3329

Although still relatively young, pianist George Cooper is well known as a session musician and has worked with a variety of performers. It’s also well known that his interests lie in the Blue Note recordings of the 50s and 60s, and this album is testament to his regard and commitment to that style of playing.

These tracks don’t slavishly reproduce the work of such influential figures as Horace Silver and Art Blakey, but reflect their inspiration for the talented composer Cooper and his fellow collaborators. This is shown in the soulish title track, Scheming, and She’ll Come Around, on which Cooper creates a solid backdrop on organ. It’s also evident on the Latin-flavoured and infectious Costa Del Lol and Late, and on the straight-down-the line hard bop of Top Down Tourism, I Bought It On The Moon and Hawkeye Jorge, while Everybody’s Got Something sounds like a variation on Benny Golson’s Blues March. The ballad Rosie Karima slows down the proceedings – Nick Malcolm soloing with great feeling.

The front horns shine throughout with the power and lyricism of Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley; Nick Malcolm’s trumpet blazing with clear tone and accuracy, Nicholas Dover’s tenor showing force and authority. All the musicians demonstrate a high degree of proficiency and play with spirit and a feel for the material.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in this style and although the band seems to be based in Bristol, I’ll certainly be looking out for a performance in my neck of the woods.

Buy The Jazz Defenders: Scheming on vinyl, CD, digital from Haggis Records here. Listen on Spotify here

Discography
Top Down Tourism; Everybody’s Got Something; Scheming; I Bought It On The Moon; Late; Hawkeye Jorge; Costa Del Lol; Rosie Karima; She’ll Come Around; Brown Down (47.48)
Nick Malcolm (tpt); Nicholas Dover (ts); George Cooper (p); Will Harris (b); Matt Brown (d). Rec. Haverfordwest, October 2016.
Haggis HRCD003

Review overview
Reviewer rating
Previous articleThree In A Box: Three In A Box
Next articleRobin Phillips: Re-Versed
the-jazz-defenders-scheming"Inspired by Blue Note recordings of the 50s & 60s, it’s highly recommended to anyone interested in this style"