John Turville Trio – Conception
(F-IRECD 57. CD Review by Chris Parker)

Pianist John Turville has had a rich and varied jazz career thus far, playing with the likes of Gilad Atzmon, Tim Garland and the Frank Griffith Big Band, as well as leading and composing for his own E17 large ensemble, but he has also taken part in a number of tango-based projects – the London Tango Orchestra, Transtango, this recording’s cellist Eduardo Vassallo’s El Ultimo Tango – and, consequently, this recording is not only infused with the robust lyricism of the likes of Keith Jarrett and (particularly) John Taylor, but also bristles with the drama and pep customarily associated with tango.

The core trio, which has been playing together for over a decade, is completed by bassist Chris Hill and drummer Ben Reynolds, and it addresses Turville’s originals (both his bright, rhythmically vibrant pieces and the odd more contemplative ballad), a Radiohead tune (‘Scatterbrain’) and the George Shearing-composed title-track with exemplary verve and aplomb, the whole band sound beautifully captured by Artesuono Studios, which seems to have an enviable knack (see also John Law’s various recordings there) of precisely capturing a piano trio’s particular interactive dynamic.

Turville himself is a lively, resourceful soloist, his compositions just complex enough to reward repeated exposure but readily accommodating uninhibited exploration by all concerned; overall, this is a compelling and powerful album that mines an abundant seam of influences without unduly compromising its individuality.

The album will be launched at Pizza Express Dean St this Thursday 27th September. This is also the first gig of the F-IRE Festival, previewed HERE.