Brian Melvin, Søren Lee, Mads Søndergaard, Tranesformation, Storyville ***1/2

A very loose and laidback soul-jazz trio tribute to John Coltrane here from American drummer Brian Melvin and Danish guitarist Søren Lee in an organ soaked setting - with Lee's fellow Dane Mads Søndergaard completing the line-up. Not at all a …

Published: 22 Oct 2023. Updated: 46 days.

A very loose and laidback soul-jazz trio tribute to John Coltrane here from American drummer Brian Melvin and Danish guitarist Søren Lee in an organ soaked setting - with Lee's fellow Dane Mads Søndergaard completing the line-up. Not at all a serious or ponderous affair more a supper club kind of band and approach, the trio often gliding lovingly through staples from the Coltrane canon including 'Naima,' 'Impressions' and a blissful take on 'I'll Wait and Pray'. Lee has a very agile communicative sound best heard on 'Afro Blue' while Søndergaard's constantly pulsing organ accompaniment adds a lot of flavour to what is a feelgood album. Melvin is a fine drummer - he reminds us of the much missed Steve Reid in his expansiveness and mobility - and this album is a welcome reminder of just what he can do.

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Weekend choice from the new releases: Tom Berkmann, Journey, Whirlwind ****

One of the appealing aspects of this quintet album recorded in Poland in 2021 just released from German bassist Tom Berkmann is how congenial it is - you put it on, tracks easily flow from one to another - you get the feeling of vitality and a band …

Published: 21 Oct 2023. Updated: 47 days.

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One of the appealing aspects of this quintet album recorded in Poland in 2021 just released from German bassist Tom Berkmann is how congenial it is - you put it on, tracks easily flow from one to another - you get the feeling of vitality and a band in front of you. And there is lots of development in the post-bop and lightly jazz-rock flavoured tunes, all the players take their time with the solos. Guitarist Carl Morgan reminds us a little of Ant Law or Phil Robson and you get the same knotty intensity that you find on work by either of these fine players. The whole band effect is akin to some of the groupings Whirlwind chief Michael Janisch himself has put together so you can understand why Berkmann who studied at the Manhattan School of Music and has a band called Scopes appeals to the label. Here he is with some Berlin scene jazz players: Ben Kraef on tenor sax who proves a little Michael Brecker-like in places, Morgan, Simon Seidl on piano and drummer Fabian Rösch in a set shaped around Berkmann's own well put together tunes. The whole thing flows.