The Weave

Liverpool’s vibrant city has just given rise to a new talented jazz band, The Weave, who released their debut album of the same name last July.

The band may be recent, but the members know and have played with each other for a long time – up to 20 years for the two trumpeters Martin Smith and Tony Peers. From Latin jazz and New Orleans to modern jazz and Senegalese dance music, they have had a great range of experiences, resulting in a very mature first album.

It opens dynamically with the noteworthy ‘Thou Spak a Mouthful’, on a syncopated rhythm at the piano and drums. It reveals Martin’s potential, playing as easily as if he were talking; Tony Ormesher at the guitar, and Rob Stringer at the piano are not less eloquent.

The album continues with the band having fun on ‘Caresser Caress Her’. This one is a very stirring piece which would sound a bit like a cover song of the well-known ‘Linus and Lucy’ piano tune, also known as ‘Peanuts theme song’. Whoever likes the original will have a little crush on this one, which makes one’s spirits lift instantly.

Track number three ‘Never Better’ is a very atmospheric track, with a more Miles Davis style, offering three fine solos: on double bass (Hugo Harris), muted trumpet (Tony Peers) and on piano (Rob Stringer). Number six ‘As Within’ is in the same spirit, showing a smart trumpet arrangement.

The dynamic seventh track ‘Cold Wet And Sockless’ has already picked up support from Mark Radcliffe on hisRadio 2 Music Box show. It has an interesting wavy chorus with piano and fast drums (Tilo Pirnbaum), and trumpets on a question-answer mode.

Number eight, ‘Abram’s Air’, is a classic, Satchmo-like jazz track, on which you can easily picture yourself sitting in a dark and smokey American jazz club. This is no wonder, since the two trumpeters have played in a New Orleans-style band for some years, The Brasshoppers. The two players are mutually complementary – as Martin puts it himself, they ”breath together”.

The Weave are not resting on their laurels either: to celebrate their album’s release, they have participated in several festivals last August, like at the Manchester International Jazz Festival and at the Congleton Jazz & Blues.

Bottom line, the good symbiosis of this happy crew transpires in The Weave, a strong starting point with a nice overall British jazz feel, that both jazz lovers or discoverers will appreciate.

This article appeared on AAAmusic.co.uk.

Tayo Irvine Hendrix - Crazy Dayze

Tayo Irvine Hendrix has a sound of her own, and it was well expected.

After all, being Jimi Hendrix's daughter, she could only build up a talent for music – and was given a drum at three years old to ensure this. Since then, Tayo became a percussionist, songwriter and composer as well as a singer.

Her percussion influence can be heard in her new single – ‘Crazy Dayze’ – a dynamic, classic blues piece that opens with plain drums. They are immediately followed by the singer’s husky voice telling you things like “take off your shoes” and “take off my bra”. You are then carried away by riffs of electric guitar, and by the singer’s resonant and warm vocals. Tayo alternates all the while between sensual commandments and voluptuously sung choruses, the piano accompanying her continuously with a syncopated, catchy jazzy rhythm.

The overall piece has a slight 90s-punchiness, sprinkled at the end by bits of flute. It is definitely a nice blues track; the kind of blues corresponding to Tayo’s lively, colourful personality.

‘Crazy Dayze’ will be part of her Tayo Irvine Hendrix’s album EXPERIENCE This, which was mixed by Blake Eiseman, the man accountable for Pink’s notoriety, and who has worked with Usher, Janet Jackson and Aretha Franklin. It is to be released on September 23rd, to start autumn on a swinging note.

This article appeared on  AAAmusic.co.uk.