Tracks from Joel Frahm's The Bright Side burn enticingly

Torn as to which of the two tracks streaming so far from The Bright Side – is a tie allowed? Ah, now, nope. Not even a cravat. Or a caveat to however mischievously muddy the waters. 'Omer's World' is full on and works like a charm. But call me a sucker, and some regularly do, the title track is the one that I'll instead go for given its warmth and sense of all-is-well without being twee. Delivering clear, heart-on-sleeve, lines Mehldau-ian saxist Joel Frahm on this track on tenor proves certainly a lucid communicator. Hearing Frahm made me think of going down and checking out the Gonz a little while ago at the Pizza Express Jazz Club when he was in town as I certainly dig the vibe communing with a few memories and thinking that Frahm is a Bergonzi-type player (also even closer Joshua Redman fans stampede along to check all this out). Shoot me if I'm wrong. Anyway, Dan Loomis' bass line in combination with Ernesto Cervini on brushes groove succinctly to begin and set the mood. They establish the impressive feel. Issuing label Anzic mention that this is a new band begun at a university masterclass in Toronto. Frahm’s title tune was inspired, according to the label, by the opening riff of Lou Reed’s 'Walk On The Wild Side'. Release Date is 25 June. Link: to the tracks so far.

Joel Frahm, top. Photo: joelfrahm.com

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Looking ahead the Total Refreshment Centre presents Anthony Joseph launching The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives this coming Sunday night at the Standard in London's King's Cross on Argyle Street. With Anthony, surely the greatest jazz musician who is a top calibre poet and persuasive intellectual through his art on the UK scene at the moment, will be, according to the hotel listing Andrew John on bass guitar, Westley Joseph on drums, Thibaut Remy on guitar, Colin Webster on tenor sax, the great Denys Baptiste on tenor sax and bass clarinet and musically directing the band legendary saxist from his Dune label days also on keys, Jason Yarde. After the gig DJs play next door at the Double Standard.

As for the album released on the French Heavenly Sweetness label it's a 5-star release, see this link and this. Shabaka Hutchings' bass clarinet playing on 'Kamau' and Anthony Joseph's iridescent, beautiful, homage to his late father on 'The Gift' are to be flagged up. As are Jason Yarde's arrangements that deserve every award going. A record that's like a novel written in poetry and prose, talking with the spirits. Anthony articulates what instrumentalists cannot and is in a way their interpreter and companion the observation becoming participation. The album title is drawn from C. L. R. James' 1938 book The Black Jacobins.

Anthony Joseph, top. Photo: Heavenly Sweetness

Tracks from Joel Frahm's The Bright Side burn enticingly

Preview: Anthony Joseph at the Standard, King's Cross, London on Sunday 27 June