If someone had played me this album and asked me to pick out the band leader, I am pretty sure I would not have said it was the bassist, but here we have eight original songs by Matthew Snow on this his debut release. He is accompanied by David Gibson (trombone), Clay Lyons (alto saxophone), Joe Doubleday (vibraphone), Daisuke Abe (guitar) and Wayne Smith (drums) and the result is something which is a sheer delight. Snow rarely puts himself at the front but is more than happy to sit at the back with Smith and provide support so the rest of the guys can drive the melodies. Abe often also sits towards the rear, just keeping things moving on, so it is the brass and the vibraphone which often get the opportunity to shine.
The unusual instrumentation (a hard bop group without trumpet, tenor or piano) and the original melodies and chord changes give listeners a fresh spin on the straight-ahead jazz tradition, so it feels light and Summery without ever losing any of the passion. There is a trombone solo in “Amber Glow” where Gibson fluffs a note, and he immediately lets out a cry of annoyance then keeps going. That this is the take which is kept on the album says a great deal about the band as the overall feel of the song is joyous, and why worry about that one note? This album shouts class from the very first toe the last, immediately enjoyable, and one which fans of this style of instrumental jazz need to seek out. This may be the first album from Snow, but it surely won’t be the last.
Rating: 8/10
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Track list:
1. Amber Glow
2. Blitz
3. The Exit Strategy
4. Brood
5. Jealousy
6. Bouyantly Bliss
7. The Change Agent
8. Venus
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