Simon Spillett - Sienna Red

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:42
Size: 172,1 MB
Art: Front

(8:30)  1. Mini Minor
(9:02)  2. Lifeline
(6:52)  3. Souriya
(6:57)  4. Peace Pipe
(8:15)  5. Rumpus
(7:50)  6. Ricardo
(8:28)  7. Pint of Bitter
(8:43)  8. The Right to Love
(6:19)  9. Sienna Red
(3:42) 10. Oleo

After winning the 2007 Rising Star category in the BBC Jazz Awards, tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett now has this very disc up for public voting in the 2008 Best Album section. Fundamentally, it's a representation of what he does onstage, though the fact that this recording can't possibly scale the heights of an in-person experience is some testament to Spillett's blowing power. His ascension over the last few years has been swift, to the point where he's now a serious challenger to reedsman Alan Barnes for the British hard bop sceptre. Woodville is the latter's record label, so here's an endorsement from a fitting source. Of course, there's Peter King and Don Weller to consider too, but there's something about Spillett's approach that aligns him with Barnes. Spillett is already a veteran of all the prestigious London clubs, and is now throwing himself completely into the establishment of his own quartet's comet-like reputation, boasting the line-up of John Critchinson (piano), Andrew Cleyndert (bass) and Spike Wells (drums). It's impossible to avoid mention of the great Tubby Hayes as Spillett's guiding light in terms of style and attack, but this doesn't mean that he's forsaking the development of a personal vocabulary. This follow-up to 2007's debut album is as swift as Simon's soloing articulation. He absolutely doesn't dally. On the opening Mini Minor, barely is the theme shot out than the tenorman's skating off on a winding solo, the combo coping well with their own solos, the end result being an introductory portfolio of their wares. It's as if Spillett is attempting to cram life itself into each eight minute outburst. That's about the average tune-length, as extended time is needed to accommodate Simon's spillage. When the songs aren't hurtling at high velocity, they adopt a brash swaying motion, and a ballad spot tends to turn up after every third chaser, just to prove that Spillett is also a sensitive breather. Peace Pipe sounds anything but peaceful. In fact, it's rather more agitated than Rumpus, which has its own staccato flourishes. Spillett saves Oleo until last, and it's a rollercoaster that brooks no argument. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3rqv/

Personnel: Saxophone [Tenor], Producer – Simon Spillett; Double Bass – Andrew Cleyndert; Drums – Spike Wells; Piano – John Critchinson

Sienna Red

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Jacqui Hicks with the John Critchinson Trio - A Child Is Born

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:39
Size: 135,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. All Or Nothing At All
(4:51)  2. She's Leaving Home
(4:54)  3. Monday Monday
(4:25)  4. I Only Have Eyes For You
(4:20)  5. Autumn Nocturne
(4:19)  6. Wonderful Tonight
(3:56)  7. It Ain't Necessarily So
(3:57)  8. Crazy
(4:30)  9. Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered
(2:58) 10. A Child Is Born
(5:40) 11. The Nearness Of You
(6:07) 12. The Frim Fram Sauce
(4:26) 13. For All We Know

Great vocal jazz album from Jacqui Hicks, alongside pianist John Critchinson and special guests trumpeter Martin Shaw and saxophonist Bobby Wellins. Vocalist Jacqui Hicks and pianist John Critchinson have been working together for some 10 years in quartet and duet formats and they share the same quest for quality of music and song arrangements. In 2002, Jacqui joined John's trio of Dave Green and Tristan Mailliot and have been working world wide ever since.

Personnel: Jacqui Hicks (vocals), John Critchinson (piano), Dave Green (double bass), Tristan Mailliot (drums) with guests: Martin Shaw (trumpet & flugelhorn), Bobby Wellins (tenor saxophone)

A Child Is Born

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Jacqui Hicks with the John Critchinson Trio - With A Song In My Heart

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:23
Size: 136,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. This Can't Be Love
(5:04)  2. When Sunny Gets Blue
(4:59)  3. Love For Sale
(4:53)  4. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
(4:18)  5. You Taught My Heart To Sing
(4:00)  6. Night & Day
(4:10)  7. Ticket To Everywhere
(1:24)  8. The Very Thought Of You
(5:10)  9. With A Song In My Heart
(4:41) 10. Invitation
(3:39) 11. (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over
(4:39) 12. Where Is Love?
(4:00) 13. That's All
(4:41) 14. Beautiful Love (Live)

Born Featherstone, Yorkshire, England. As a child, Hicks began playing on the recorder before graduating to the clarinet on which she studied classical music. She also played tenor saxophone for a while. Her musical tastes inclined towards the jazzier end of the current pop spectrum, including musicians such as George Benson and Earth, Wind And Fire. At the age of 18 Hicks attended the Leeds College of Music where she was encouraged by Bill Charleson. She sang with the college band, with Brian Layton’s funk band, and with John Brown’s Student Bodies. After Leeds, she went to the Guildhall School of Music in London. In 1989 she sang occasionally with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the following year joined the band on a regular basis. In 1992 she joined and toured the world with jazz funk band Shakatak. Also in the 90s Hicks began a solo career. She has composed songs, including ‘Just A Breath Away’, which she recorded with NYJO. Hicks is a skilled yet unfussy singer with charm and intelligence. https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/with-a-song-in-my-heart/212755890

Personnel:  Jacqui Hicks (vo);  John Critchinson (p);  Dave Green (b);  Tristan Mailliot (ds);  Martin Shaw (tp, flh on 3 tunes);  Tina May (vo on 1 tune)

With A Song In My Heart

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