Recorded live at the Jazz Café in London in July 2018 The Rainbow Mountain/Can We Care from pianist-composer Robert Mitchell has just been released.

A landmark solo album dedicated to Cecil Taylor, Mitchell's virtuoso touch is airy and measured; while dedicated to Taylor there is no specific album in mind that the UK pianist refers to (Air Above Mountains could however be listened to constructively alongside Mitchell's album) and this is not an out-there wild 'free improv' improvisation affair in style at all. The closest to Taylor in that regard these days is probably Matthew Shipp, a very different pianist. Mitchell instead navigates more Keith Jarrett-like waters and there is a thoughtfulness and sense of monastic repose at work, themes eked out of simple ideas and then elaborated upon and certainly a sense of occasion at play develops. Not a hugely long album, actually one very long track, clocking in at just over a half an hour, there, nonetheless, is a lot to discover within that short space of time. A serious listen by once again a seriously impressive improviser. SG

Out on Depth of Field.

Photo of Robert Mitchell: Richard Kaby

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