Nigel Price has the well-deserved reputation of being one of the hardest-working jazz musicians in the UK. On the back of a 43-night tour back in 2023, we are lucky to have this double album as a fitting reminder of a jazz trio at the top of its game.
The album spans gigs at the Lighthouse in Deal, the Globe in Newcastle Upon Tyne and, fittingly, Ronnie Scott’s in London, where Price appears often. The length of this tour is more akin to a Jools Holland schedule than a normal jazz group, but it shows what performing night after night does to the band’s tightness, synergy and musicianship. The only personnel change over the recorded sessions was the replacement of Ross Stanley on Hammond with Peter Johnstone for the Globe gig.
Price tells me that in his view the recordings are “rough, ready, warts and all – but real, and a little snapshot of what goes on at the sharp end”. I think that may be too harsh a judgement as this is a hugely enjoyable album of the highest quality played by musicians who clearly respect each other, their music and the audience.
It is not insignificant that 25% of the profits generated are going to Grassroots Jazz, a charity set up by Price post-lockdown to help UK jazz clubs. So far there have been pay outs to 15 clubs. Modestly, Price says “It’s not much, but at least its something.” To me, it says a great deal more about Price.
His career began over 25 years ago when he played with a variety of funk and reggae bands before starting a solo career. He has played on more than 50 albums including five as leader. He also spent 10 years with acid-jazz band The Filthy Six as well as three years with the James Taylor Band.
Approximately half the tunes here appeared on the band’s most recent studio album That’s It. Right There; the other tracks are a mixture of tunes from earlier albums such as Fools Gold and Head & Tales. Most tunes are some kind of tribute to past and/or current masters in jazz. Price says “It means the world to us as a band to pay respectful homage to the greats whilst simultaneously creating a path of our own.” Good examples are You Don’t Know Me (in homage to the late Joey DeFrancesco), Night Flight (a contrafact of Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage) and Stryke One (a tribute to US guitarist Dave Stryker). My favourites are Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (a Price regular but changed to the more guitar-friendly key of A to allow for greater variety) and Sweet (a tune based on the chord changes of Stanley Turrentine’s Sugar).
This album is the next best thing to being at the gig yourself. The musicianship is top drawer and the recording atmospheric, fun, tight and above all, full of enthusiasm. Given the band’s extensive touring itinerary, it is likely that they will someday appear at a venue near you. I would strongly recommend attending to support a band who not only play great music but who genuinely care about the future of jazz in the UK.
Discography
CD1: (1) Morning Star; Falling In Love With Love; You Don’t Know Me; It Ain’t Necessarily So; (2) Sweet; Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most; Kid Gloves (64.00)
CD2: (3) Wet & Dry; Hey, Shirley; Stealing Time; Night Flight; So Do It; Booze Blooze (61.00)
(1) Price (g); Ross Stanley (Hammond org); Joel Barford (d). The Lighthouse, Deal, Kent, 30 November 2023.
(2) as (3) Pizza Express, Dean Street, London, 22 November 2023.
(3) as (1) except Stanley out and Peter Johnstone (o) in. The Globe, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 16 November 2023.
Nervy Nigel Records NERVYCD005
