The latest releases reviewed
JOHN RUOCCO Am I Asking Too Much? Pirouet ****
"Chamber jazz" does no justice to the subtlety, mutual responsiveness and imagination shown here by Ruocco (on clarinet), John Taylor (piano) and Riccardo del Fra (bass). Ruocco's deceptively understated originals have a tensile strength that's clearly inspirational: in the freedom that emerges from the gentle swagger of A Glimmer, in how the melancholy undertones of the sunny Waltz 4 suffuse the lovely solos it provokes. In this trio democracy it's perhaps unfair to single out Taylor, who is magnificent in his ability to serve the music yet bring so much of himself to it. But he's also a part of a trio whose sheer balance of internal dynamics and superb interaction make the restrainedly playful Kuk Kuk, the interactive finesse of the title track and the glorious, long, songlike ballad, Benebe, such gorgeous experiences, collectively and individually. www.pirouetrecords.com - RAY COMISKEY
CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET Rabo de Nube ECM ****
Charles Lloyd's garrulous debt to Coltrane seems too often to lead to meandering solos, albeit with moments of beauty. But this quartet, with new men Jason Moran (piano) and Reuben Rogers (bass) joining Lloyd and Eric Harland, is a stunning unit. Moran's influence is clearly crucial; his empathy with Harland, a great drummer, and his ability not only to respond to Lloyd's wanderings, but also to lead and colour them, is compelling. The quartet successfully blend form and freedom on Prometheus, and bring an expressive flexibility to bear on the slow Migration of Spirit and the buoyant Booker's Garden without compromising the dramatic arc of each performance. Lloyd, on tenor, flute and taragato, is a more focused soloist in this company - and perceptive and generous enough to give them their head on this live 2007 Basel date. Formidable. www.musicconnection.org.uk - RAY COMISKEY
TUBBY HAYES Intensity Tentoten ***
This previously unissued mid-1960s recording suggests that, for Hayes, stretching out live sometimes got him to a special place. Here, on three long tracks, he's absolutely brilliant, notably on Mini-Minor, the opening charge through the blues, where his long solo is cogent, arresting and almost devoid of pet runs. Hayes's solo (again on tenor) on the medium lope of Alone Together is nearly as good, and there are striking moments from his flute-playing on the half-hour Sometime Ago. Bassist Jeff Clyne's solos, oddly enough, are the most interesting after the leader's, but Terry Shannon's archetypal bop piano doesn't let the side down, even in the context of Hayes's gripping, five-star performance; neither does drummer Benny Goodman. Although the piano needed tuning, all things considered, the sound is acceptable. www.tentotenrecords.com - RAY COMISKEY
