Kevin Lawlor

“Exodus”

“Exodus” is the début recording as a leader by the Wexford based drummer and composer Kevin Lawlor. The Irish drummer first came to my attention when he appeared on the excellent 2012 album “Resonance” by Port Talbot based pianist and composer Dave Jones. Lawlor’s appearance on Jones’ album came about as the result of a number of fruitful collaborations between Welsh and Irish musicians with live performances taking place at a variety of venues, mainly arts centres, on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Jones returns the compliment by appearing on Lawlor’s self released album alongside the Dublin based Andrew Csibi, one of Ireland’s most in demand bass players. A truly international cast list is completed by Finnish guitarist Vesa Anttila whose work graces two of the album’s eight cuts. The presence of the talented Dave Jones on any record is pretty much a guarantee that something of interest is going to happen and “Exodus” is no exception.

The album was recorded at Wexford Arts Centre where Lawlor is the Curator of Jazz. He is also the Director of Jazz at County Wexford School of Music. Lawlor is a graduate of the jazz course at Newpark Music centre in Dublin and has also studied in Salzburg, Austria and at the Drummers Collective in New York. He has played with many of Ireland’s leading jazz performers as well as musicians from Canada, Finland and the UK.

The material on “Exodus”, mainly composed by Lawlor, is a mixture of tunes written specifically for the project and tunes written in the past for previous performances. The album title is a reference to the renewed economic migration that has beset Ireland again in recent times with the country’s youth once again moving overseas to find work following the economic crash of 2008.

The album begins with the trio piece “Talk To Me” which introduces Jones’ fluency and lyricism at the piano accompanied by Lawlor’s light, splashy cymbal touch and Csibi’s sympatico bass. There’s an excellent feature from the bassist combining dexterity and lyricism above Lawlor’s subtly brushed accompaniment. It’s highly accomplished contemporary piano jazz that wouldn’t be out of place on an ECM recording, a word of praise here for Wexford arts Centre’s house engineer Ollie Dempsey who played a vital role in the creation of this album.

“Dom Rep”  (presumably a truncation of “Dominican Republic”) is a playful item based on an infectious Latin groove with Jones soloing exuberantly above the chatter of Lawlor’s drums. Again there’s an extended feature for Csibi in this most democratic of trios.

Anttila joins the group for “Mr Jordan”, Lawlor’s dedication to American drummer and multi instrumentalist Steve Jordan. Given Jordan’s reputation as a master of the groove it is perhaps no surprise that this is a funky little item with Lawlor adopting a more forceful drumming style and Anttila plugging in to deliver some searing fusion style guitar. Although the sleeve credits Jones with piano only he’s definitely playing electric keyboards here and contributes a grooving Hammond solo (the closing track on his own “Resonance” album “Ubermog” also finds him in this mode). Call it fusion or call it jazz funk this high energy piece is great fun and a good indicator of Lawlor’s versatility.

The wistful ballad “Goodbye Again” is a wry reflection on the musician lifestyle and the frequency of “airport goodbyes”. Jones is at his most thoughtful and lyrical, Csibi’s resonant bass exhibits appropriate gravitas and Lawlor provides neatly brushed comment and punctuation. 

“Exodus” continues the wistful, lyrical mood, appropriately so given the tune’s subject matter. It’s a beautiful trio performance with a wonderfully delicate balance between the three instruments, the players evoking a sense of nostalgia , longing and yearning on one of Lawlor’s most memorable melodies.

Jones’ “Ubermog”, mentioned earlier, makes another appearance. In a slightly different guise to the “Resonance” version it remains a spirited funk/fusion workout with Jones on Hammond and Anttila guesting on guitar.There’s a taut solo from Anttila and Lawlor’s drums are also featured prominently with a crisp circumnavigation of the kit above an underpinning bass groove.

“Sarajevo” is an impressionistic ballad incorporating the rich velvet tones of Csibi’s bowed bass alongside Jones’ limpid piano and the delicate filigree of Lawlor’s cymbal work. The piece is something of a feature for Csibi who also contributes an effective pizzicato solo.

The album closes with “Blues For Rusty”, Lawlor’s dedication to Canadian guitarist and one time collaborator Rusty McCarty. This is an unpretentious, swinging blues which acts as a vehicle for solos from all three musicians with bass and drums exchanging a series of choruses mid tune. It ends a pleasantly diverse album on a cheeringly upbeat note. 

“Exodus” is an admirably varied and well programmed album that showcases several aspects of Lawlor’s writing and playing. The core trio is well balanced with a good level of interaction between the players. Anttila’s contributions are well judged and provide a welcome extra instrumental voice at suitably strategic moments. I enjoyed his contributions a lot, he’s a musician I’d like to hear more of.

Lawlor is one of Ireland’s busiest jazz musicians and his collaborations with his Welsh counterparts continue to bear fruit. The Lawlor/Jones/Csibi trio have a number of live appearances booked for the summer including appearances at Rosslare Jazz Festival plus a London show.

Kevin Lawlor Trio - EXODUS Launch Gigs
July 25th Rosslare Jazz Festival - Jam Session at Redmonds, Rosslare
July 26th Rosslare Jazz Festival - Dave Jones Trio, Rosslare Golf Course
July 27th Rosslare Jazz Festival - CUBA LIBRE! Cedars Hotel, (Latin lunchtime gig)
August 24th Kevin Lawlor Trio, Ajani Grill & Jazz, London N19.London, TBC
August 25th Kevin Lawlor Trio, Aberjazz Festival, Fishguard, Wales

More immediately the trio plus Welsh trumpeter Tomos Williams will be paying tribute to Miles Davis at two arts centre shows in Waterford and Wexford.
Friday 5th April 2013, Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford.
Saturday 6th April 2013, Wexford Arts Centre.

More at http://www.kevinlawlor.com

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