Max Luthert - Orbital CD launch

Max Luthert - Bass

Duncan Eagles
Tenor Saxophone

The Pizza Express Soho is as thick of atmosphere as it is of crust. The cavernous interior brings a camaraderie to its denizens. With only candles to light your way, every bite and every sound can be consumed in isolation. It is hard though for an artist to draw in the darkness. So here is my interpretation of Max Luthert's Orbital album launch at the Pizza Express Soho last week (20/10/2014). It was pure intuition that reached the page, so excuse the simplicity of the sketches.

Chris Philips

A year and a week ago on 14th October 2013 Max Luthert recorded the music for his debut album 'Orbital' at Clown Pocket's Studio (link to words/sketches). Once again his talents have been championed by Whirlwind Recordings and the label's founder, Michael Janisch, who was Luthert's mentor/teacher during his formative years.


Dave Hamblett -
drums

There are better reviewers than me, more discerning in their technical interpretation of Max Luthert's prowess. So please visit Sarah Chaplin's excellent piece (with Rob Blackham's photography) on the London Jazz website. There were musical heavyweights in attendance, influential young guns and one or two familiar jazzfaces.


 

Matt Robinson
piano

In the gloom I was able to sketch one of my heroes, Chris Philips, whose radio show I listen to while working in the studio. To be selected for his Blue Print radio programme is an honour for any musician. In front of me sat Ollie Howell who has recently been cast in Philip's blue glow. The Sky Award winning pianist was relaxing before recording a new album himself.

 

Amongst other musicians attending were Leo Appleyard who has just released his debut too, Pembroke Road (F-IRE 75) and trumpeter Paul Jordanous. All from the Kingston stable where Luthert and saxophonist Duncan Eagles cut their musical teeth.



Gareth Lockrane

Gareth Lockrane glowed throughout the night with his supernatural flute powers, especially on the early tune 'Pacific Before Tiger'. The performance of the night was from the collective itself though and fortunately it was the title of the album 'Orbital'. It has a repressed pull that is infectious. There is a pulse which hammers home and your blood doesn't feel like your own when you are taken by its grip. It reminds your body of substances that are called addictive.

Seb Pipe - Alto Saxophone

The album is released on Whirlwind Recordings (WR 4659)
Buy it here - http://www.whirlwindrecordings.com/storecds/

AL.

Max Luthert - Shadows boxer

Max Luthert - Bass

Max Luthert stepped out of the shadows on the 14th October 2013 and recorded his debut album at Clown's Pocket Studio. With only a solitary composition to his name in "Assam" it was hard to know what to expect. Promise and curiosity were piqued with that lone addition to Partikel's second album "Cohesion" and with that mere glimpse we wondered what else lay under the surface of Luthert's iceberg.

Derek Nash

At the helm of the studio was Derek Nash, who has developed a close relationship with Luthert, and Partikel colleague Duncan Eagles. Where once Nash took a hands-on approach, even appearing on an early "Jazz Proof" album, he is now a fixer. Maybe tailor would be more appropriate, he stitches together these young players ideas, a nip and tuck here to create the stylish package that ultimately stands before us. In fact he was so relaxed he spent the morning session preparing sweet chestnuts for the freezer whilst repairing the odd Eagles dropped stitch.



Matt Robinson -
Piano

From old to new, Matt Robinson, is becoming a fixture on these South London Collectives and played an early role in "Grand Designs".


Duncan Eagles - Saxophone

Not a homage to the aspirational middle-class TV programme, but this was a little more Albert Speer, with the tune's compositional boulevards getting bigger and bigger after every vamp. Robinson scribbled all over Luthert's drawing board, creating a flourishing chaos that us humans seem to perfect.


Gareth Lockrane - Flute

The Saxophones of Seb Pipe (Alto) and Duncan Eagles (Tenor/Soprano) built the scaffold but they had deviated from architect Luthert's carefully drawn plans. "We're adding an extra note, but why are we both doing it?". To the untrained ear it was undetectable but obviously made all the difference as "Grand Designs" reached it conclusion like a teetering Tower of Babel. They stopped their construction luckily before the inevitable conclusion.



Seb Pipe - Alto Saxophone

"Edgewall" gave us a taste of what was to come, a surprise to me, for amongst the saxophone forestation here was the first dell. This glade became a clearing and broke out into the panoramic "Cloud On Cloud", a tune which represents Max Luthert's vision better than any. His spearhead on this and many other tracks was Gareth Lockrane on flute. The drums of Dave Hamblett provided the thermals and Matt Robinson a gentle breeze as Lockrane rose.



Dave Hamblett - drums

"Pacific Before Tiger" starts with a downy burr like Luthert's chin, soft and gentle but degenerated into more familiar Partikel territory with some spikey saxophone whiskers. There were 4 more tracks recorded, "Orbital", "Quiet December", "Metro Moodie" alongside a spanking new composition. You'll have to wait to hear those when the album comes out in 2014.

I'll be writing some more about them in my Album Inspirations too, because Max Luthert has put the artwork in my ink stained hands.

For now Luthert is back in the trio spotlight as Partikel traverse the windswept Scottish Highlands as part of their Autumn Tour. His music though still lurks in the sweet shadows and rather than it being thrust out, it is us who shall be pulled in.

AL.

See Partikel tonight in Edinburgh (1st Nov) and Fife on Sunday (3rd Nov).

Ollie Howell Quintet - Whirlwind debut

Ollie Howell - drums

 True to the spirit of London Jazz's most exciting label Ollie Howell launched both the Whirlwind Festival and his own debut CD at King's Place last week (10/10/2013). This is a thrilling time to be amongst the metropolis' bubbling jazz fraternity and find oneself in the company of a label that is synonymous with creativity and Jazz's forward propulsion.

Ollie Howell's journey to this point made it a poignant night even in the modest surroundings of the St Pancras Room. He was diagnosed with a brain malformation in 2009 and since then has undergone surgery and long periods of recuperation. To his credit this hasn't dampened his composition skills nor his spirit and both the CD itself and the night's raw promise lived up to the label's highest standards.

Sebastian Scotney

Introducing Howell and the whole festival was aficionado and King's Place denizen Sebastian Scotney. Every gig was succinctly flavoured with his knowledge of London's burgeoning scene and his warmth for the music and performers alike. After his opening gambits he would sit down and contemplate the music. A reflective listener, with head bowed in anticipation he rubs his nails together as though he is about to light his tinder. With the St Pancras' round window silhouetting his profile, he looked like a Bond villain that is contemplating world domination rather than a mere CD launch.

Matt Robinson - piano

With his back to the audience it would be easy to dismiss the role of pianist Matt Robinson even before starting this short hour set. Yet it was this shy wit that shone in the early skirmishes, a pumping, driving gallop in the opening tune 'Later On' was reinforced in the wild up tempo 'A World Apart' where he cast off his reins and roamed free.

Mark Perry - trumpet

The third tune 'They' was dedicated to Ollie Howell's family who proudly occupied a healthy portion of the crowd. Although Howell isn't prone to emotional outpourings here was an opportunity for him to plough the depths of his affections. His searching start rattled into a loose solo, slowly he took control with just his digits, as if blind to his surroundings his fingertips led us onto more gentle ground. This softness was only supported by both Mark Perry (trumpet) and Duncan Eagles (saxophone) as the tune developed. It was a pleasure to meet some of the Howell Clan afterwards and the festival layout encouraged everyone to draw together, creating the opportunity to see familiar faces and make foster new friendships.

Duncan Eagles - Saxophone

The front line of the OHQ was led by the lithe Perry and Eagles. On the pulse of recent trends in the 1980's fashion revival the former dazzled younger devotees with his slick suit that was reminiscent of the decades' icons Crockett and Tubbs. Unfortunately we saw no more of Mark Perry during the rest of the festival, for he always adds a spark to proceedings with his attire and playing.

Max Luthert - Bass

Duncan Eagles was on good form, terrorising the audience on 'Beyond', where his legendary left shoulder reached its peak. Both Perry and Eagles are competent musicians with a recent release as leaders to be launched on the 17th November at the London Jazz Festival (Pizza Express, Soho) and they coped well with the expectation placed on them as the Festival's opening act. Their only moment of discomfort, a clapping sequence at the end of 'Beyond' when both looked at each other but couldn't decide whether to take it to a full boyband dance routine. Max Luthert on bass didn't let them down though and his left leg couldn't resist wobbling in Shakin Stevens stylie.

Ollie Howell's debut recording 'Sutures and Stitches' has already received a bucket full of good reviews. His music has also attracted the attention of both Jimmy Cobb and Quincy Jones and you can see why. The penultimate tune 'Dear Old Stockholm' gave Howell the freedom to express his talents through his playing rather than composition and he was mesmeric with his fluid changes in pace. Howell has a serenity around him, his long face emits a wisdom that must have been gained through some of life's toughest lessons. Whirlwind's Michael Janisch trusted him enough to launch the festival and he didn't disappoint.

AL.


He's currently on tour with a whole range of dates countrywide to take your choice from.
Including tonight in Bristol (18th October) and Sunday (20th Oct) at the excellent Southampton Modern Jazz Club.