It's Happening

Debut Album

     

I might be forgiven I think for saying that I heard some Michael Brecker through parts of this album, but it's really common influences bleeding through. Both demonstrate the melodic expressiveness and tonal warmth of Stan Getz and the tonal depth of John Coltrane, but here we also have some of Coltrane's speed and accuracy - almost his 'sheets of sound'.

The album is an unusual mix, the quartet of Booth, Gorman, Herbert and Higginbottom being supplemented on tracks 7 and 10 by Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn and Barnaby Dickinson on trombone, on 3 and 4 by Gareth Lockrane on flutes, and on4 and 5 by Mike Outram on guitar. I feel that Paul is using this diversity to explore and utilize his vast experiences, and one hears echoes of big band orchestration in those extra horns. The influence of Paul's Cuban experience and his own Brazilian-styled band Oxala, a seven piece group that plays in a variety of styles including drum 'n' bass, funk, jazz and salsa, is heard behind the flutes and elsewhere.
 This improbable line-up of outstanding musicians does Paul's music and his debut album proud. It is thoroughly enjoyable and highly accomplished, an album I shall be playing for my friends time and again. There are no stars to single out really, lest it be Paul himself, for they all perform like stars. This album is a real diamond and every bit as hard.   15/02/2004 Ken Cheetham