Mark Lockheart's In Deep

 

The group takes its name from Mark’s critically acclaimed ‘In Deep’ CD that rocked the jazz world with its release last year, “posterity may come to regard In Deep as the key record of the second golden age of British Jazz” Manchester Evening News *****( Five Stars)

 

"One of the most glorious bits of writing and playing you'll hear this year". Jazzwise ****

 

In Deep is Lockheart’s first album for boutique label EDITION and it’s a record of great originality and integrity. Mark Lockheart first emerged on the UK scene in the 1980’s as a member of seminal big band Loose Tubes. Since then, he has co-led Perfect Houseplants with bassist Huw Warren and led his own highly original Scratch Band, as well as playing saxophone in Seb Rochford’s ground-breaking Polar Bear.

 

If the saxophonist-composer had a motto, it would surely be, ‘Do different things and do things differently’. Everything Lockheart has done in his career has had the stamp of individuality and been marked by a determination to plot his own course.

 

It’s the command and authority of Lockheart’s saxophone that first strikes home on In Deep - magisterial, confident with maybe just hints of those two great tenor titans - Michael Brecker and Joe Henderson. Then the sheer quality of the writing hits you – these are tunes once heard not forgotten. And then the power, confidence and commitment of his group grabs you by the coat and you know they’ve got you.

 

And what a fine group of musicians are here assembled. Liam Noble has quietly become one of Europe’s finest pianist and you can hear the how and the why on his gorgeous solo performance of the lovely Falling and the quiet, pensive middle section of Not In My Name. Dave Smith (Outhouse) on drums and Jasper Hoiby (Phronesis) on bass make for the perfect rhythm team and their duet on the evocative Surfacing is just splendid. As for Dave Priseman, the trumpeter makes an excellent foil for the leader and his muted trumpet on Golden People and Undercovers are masterpieces of control and restraint.

 

But even better than their individual contributions is this group’s consummate ensemble work. Time and again, Lockheart’s compositions focus the attention on the group’s myriad strengths – the way that solos emerge from within the composition and are located within it, the way that the music seems to flow organically and naturally from the musicians themselves, as if by some mysterious legerdemain on Lockheart’s part. Rarely in jazz do music and performance combine to such flawless effect.

 

In Deep may be the finest realisation yet of Mark Lockheart’s talents. Given his undoubted pedigree that is high praise indeed.