by Ian Mann
July 05, 2010
/ ALBUM
Charlotte Keeffe with another look at the new album by the Gareth Roberts Quintet.
Charlotte Keeffe is a jazz trumpet student at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and also has an interest in jazz journalism. Here she offers a fresh perspective on the new album by the Gareth Roberts Quintet.
Thanks for the review Charlotte, we look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Gareth Roberts Quintet
New Album, Go Stop Go
Four years after their début album, Attack of the Killer Penguins, the Gareth Roberts Quintet - Jazz Services UK promoters’ choice award winners 2008 - returns with a second album, Go Stop Go.
The Welsh Jazz Trombonist Gareth Roberts is accompanied this time, by some efficient trumpet playing from the Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Gethin Liddington.
As in “Attack of the Killer Penguins”, a serious musical attitude remains amongst the lively, spirited ensemble. This attitude can be heard through the powerful riff-based, infectious melodies - calmly nurturing the ears in a direct manner throughout.
We are welcomed into the album by Chris O’Connor’s (Dave Jones Trio and The Jones O’Connor Group) firm double bass playing on “Shaky Leg Syndrome”. It is not long before we hear Gareth’s robust trombone playing, channelling through the textures, contrasting against Gethin’s graceful trumpet solos. However, when they play together, their resonances unite, forming an established tone that creates an extra dimension to Gareth’s new selection of originals, as well as his arrangement of the Welsh Folk Song - Cwyn Mam-Yng-Nghyfraith (Mother-In-Law’s Complaint) - which is the last track.
The trickling piano lines from Paul Jones (The Jones O’Connor Group) and the constant subtle notions from Mark O’Connor on drums (Paula Gardiner Trio, Dave Jones Trio and The Jones O’Connor Group) compel together with the rest of the Quintet to ooze out a richness, which spreads across the album and allows, particularly in the ballads, the music to simply breathe.
“Go Stop Go” is a dynamic, feisty album with a focused energy.