When painter Penny Marrows was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer in March 2023, her son Billy Marrows began working on pieces for her. She heard some of these before she died, and afterwards he continued to write and then released an album in her memory, with one of her paintings on the cover. To perform the album live, Billy brought together all the musicians involved in the original in some way, creating a 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble, Grande Família. The solo pieces on the original album were transformed into full band pieces, and what we have here are the recordings from their gig at the Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho on 13th May last year, along with great sleeve notes by Richard Williams, along with a photo of Penny and different artwork gracing the cover. Inside there is also a photo of all those involved, which were Teresa Macedo Ferreira (viola), Dijan Mbanu (flute), Gustavo Clayton Marucci (clarinet, bass clarinet), Chris Williams (alto saxophone), Tom Ridout (tenor/soprano saxophones, clarinet), Mike Soper (trumpet), Olli Martin (trombone), Anna Drysdale (French horn), Billy Marrows (guitar, baritone guitar), Angus Bayley (piano), Jonas Mbanu (electric bass), Tom Potter (drums) and Greg Sanders (shaker).
The album feels like a cross between a big band and an orchestra, highly scored and arranged yet there are still elements of freedom here and there. There is a lightness and deftness of touch throughout, a celebration of a life as opposed to something deep and dreary, with the guitar often in the background and the viola combining with the flute and horns to take us in one direction, or piano in another, while the bass is rarely content to sit in the background and instead provides its own melody. Also, it is rare for all musicians to be involved at the same time, with the arrangements understanding the need for dynamics and contrast (memories of Bill Bruford “playing” on “Trio” and getting a writing credit for not doing so). It is a complex album, one which definitely rewards repeated playing, and this band in full flight must be a sight to behold as the aural majesty is wonderful. Modern jazz being taken in melodic new directions, this is a delight.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://www.billymarrows.com/
https://discus-music.org/