Perfect Stranger: Unfinished Business (Spark 011)
The gestation of Chris Sansom’s magnum opus suffered a 50-year hiatus. Sansom composed his four-part suite for nonet – originally entitled Life And Times – whilst completing a BMus degree at King’s College, London. His band, assembled in 1974, was populated by members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, including now legendary names such as Chris Biscoe, Dick Pearce, Paul Nieman and the late pianist Pete Jacobsen. He named the band Perfect Stranger. He was indeed a self-confessed Frank Zappa fan, but that moniker predated Zappa’s neo-classical composition of the same name by a decade.
For various reasons, Perfect Stranger had dispersed by the end of 1974 and the scores were relegated to a drawer and forgotten. Sansom’s life for the next five decades included a spell teaching music and later a career in computer-based technology. However, (and crucially) Sansom never ceased composing. A few years ago, he decided to revive his suite and with assistance from Chris Biscoe assembled a prodigious collective of musicians for a contemporary Perfect Stranger. Some of the band’s contingent – such as saxophonist Mick Foster and pianist Alcyona Mick – are already well known on the British jazz scene. Sansom arranged, composed and conducted the album, which was recorded on 9 and 10 October 2023 at AIR Studios in London.
The title suite opens with Part 1: Formative Years, largely propelled by Paul Michael’s recurring feisty bass guitar motif. Despite the many time signature changes, including a mind-bending 7¾/4, the piece flows smoothly. Among the soloists featured on this track, Rob Millett is heard on elegant vibes. The outlier of the suite is Part 2: Ankle Deep In Dust, which is slower and more ponderous than all the other tracks on the album with wistful bass clarinet soloing by Adam Bishop. Much of the short, ebullient Part 3: Midlife Crisis is written in 29/4 and features Bishop, Tom Green on trombone, Mick on electric piano and stunning guitar from Eddy White. The lively closer of the suite is Part 4: It’s Weird Being The Same Age As Old People featuring Foster on tenor. It’s neatly bookended with the revival of the driving bass guitar motif first heard in Part 1.
The penultimate piece, Lugubrious Boots, begins at a slow and funereal pace, but contains some gems including Michael’s (higher notes) bass-guitar solo underpinned by Sansom playing the lower notes on fretless bass guitar. Whilst picking-up speed in its middle section it dissolves back to a slow pace by its conclusion.The final track Ludwig’s Van is a reimagining of Beethoven’s Große Fuge, Op. 133. This 22-minute epic incorporates various genres such as reggae, shuffle, bebop and funk but the whole thing gels remarkably well. Sansom has arranged it so that the main theme is interpreted in a more legato style than the original’s staccato string quartet version. Unfinished Business is great fun, clever and extremely memorable.
Artie Zaitz: The Regulator (Banger Factory BF005LP)
This is foot-tapping jazz with an overt nod to Blue Note, reflected in the album sleeve’s retro artwork and typography. The mood here channels a 1960s Grant Green / Big John Patton feel courtesy of Zaitz’s zippy guitar and Ross Stanley’s lithe C3 work. The blues-based opener Some Extent sets the mood for the entire session and the inclusion of David Pattman’s slinky congas affords a Latin feel on tracks like A Nod To The High Priest and hears Stanley stretching-out the Hammond with Zaitz contributing forays of lightning runs. Bluesy guitar characterises the aptly named Boogaloo Ga Goo which nails a subtly funky mood and culminates in a cheeky quote from Eddie Harris’s Freedom Jazz Dance.
Fausta Joly’s wry spoken words introduce the title track, but an organ-led tune is rapidly established, with Zaitz following up with impressive archtop magic. Zaitz’s quartet has executed a consistently pleasing record, available on vinyl and download only, that will undoubtedly have widespread appeal. Incidentally, The LP’s title The Regulator was coined in tribute to the guitarist by trumpeter and Banger Factory Records founder Mark Kavuma for Zaitz’s ability to hold down a groove.
Jocelyn Gould: Portrait Of Right Now (Jocelyn Gould Music JGCD0524)
Guitarist Jocelyn Gould hails from Winnipeg and heads up the guitar department at Humber Polytechnic, Toronto. Her album Elegant Traveler (Posi-Tone, 2020) won the 2021 Juno Award for (solo) jazz album of the year. That she’s still a 20-something at the time of writing is a reflection of her phenomenal talent, given that Portrait Of Right Now is her fourth album.
Bewitched sees Gould singing on the Rodgers and Hart standard. She sings again on You’re In There Somewhere, but this time wordlessly tracing the number’s melody. That tune and Wes Montgomery’s high-velocity Jingles are the only non-originals on the album. The remainder, composed by Gould, are so artfully written they could already pass for standards. An example of this “instant classic” composing skill is the ballad I Haven’t Managed To Forget You on which she sings and plays guitar elegantly. She also sings on the poignant closer Spring It Seems. On the Latin-tinged Io’s Orbit, her crystalline, fluent approach sounds not dissimilar to that of Pat Martino.
It’s tempting to liken Gould’s approach to that of the late Emily Remler, not just because they are both female, but because they share an equal gift for playing an archtop guitar brilliantly. Gould is backed on this record by Will Bonness on piano, Jared Beckstead-Craan on bass and Curtis Nowosad on drums. For those wanting to witness Gould’s group in action, tune in to her YouTube channel.
Geoff Kim Organ Trio: Radiance (self-released)
Hailing from Vermont, guitarist Geoff Kim recorded his debut album Radiance over “an intense March weekend in 2024”. His trio, formed in 2021, includes organist Shane Hardiman and drummer Troy Hubbard. This bluesy hour-long set benefits from a Kenny Burrell / Jimmy Smith vibe enhanced by Kim’s meticulously crafted compositions and arrangements with some sensitive, skilful playing all round. Check out the soulful Dark Matter or the funky Boogaloo #5. Available on bandcamp.
2024 favourites
Kevin Figes: You Are Here (new). Kevin Figes’ paean to the works of the late, great Keith Tippett is masterly in its own right. He reminds us that Tippett, in addition to being a brilliant pianist, was also a superb composer. It’s a gem from start to finish.
Louis Stewart & Jim Hall: The Dublin Concert (archive). Stewart and Hall’s duo album is an example of two guitar masters in a relaxed concert setting, effortlessly conjuring up masterly tunes and like their audience, enjoying the session immensely.