Judging by the album’s title, this must be Deirdre’s first session as a leader and it looks from the credits that this is a labour of love and financial commitment by all concerned. So to the music. Spartia is a light jogging tune allowing Cartwright to decorate with suitable phrases in a fusion style over a clippety-clopping backbeat.
Not a great opener but the session does develop with the presence of Louise Elliot becoming more telling. Deirdre continues with her clusters of delicate picking until halfway through the second track (Slipper 15s 8d) when she embarks on a solo that ignites the session. Her subtle shading on the first number is replaced with an authoritative attitude that digs in and stays the distance. The tenorist picks up on the mood and lets rip in a similarly confident manner.
By switching to a ballad for the third tune, Deirdre reaches the decision time for her project. To stay with the fusion style (and a good one) or take the bull by the horns and engage with Louise in a mainly straight jazz programme. Thankfully she chose the latter and with the robustness and talent of Elliot the pair emerge unscathed on Trap, a swinging Latin number which brings to the fore the piano skill of Lodder.
Deirdre gets a bit funky on Grand Loup and allows percussionist Cupido to sing on the jointly written When Pushing Comes which adds variety without losing the momentum.
As well as playing Fender, Ms Cartwright is an advocate of the Paradis nylon stringed guitar. The sound produced is of an acoustic guitar which is sharply amplified yet still retaining a crisp accent. Pisces Moon features this instrument and makes the most of the folksy notion; jaunty flute from Elliot completes the atmosphere. A very impressive debut with the reed player almost stealing the limelight from Cartwright.
Discography
Spartia; Slipper 15s 8d; I Thought Of You; Trap; When Pushing Comes To Shoving; Grand Loup; Pisces Moon; One More; Walk With Me (50.07)
Deirdre Cartwright (elg); Louise Elliot (ts, f); Steve Lodder (p, synth); Alison Rayner (b, elb); Chris Baron (d); Gary Hammond, Josefina Cupido (pc). London, February, 1994.
(Blow The Fuse BTF 9401)
