Music / Jazz
Review: James Morton – The Kid album launch
When the teenaged James Morton first ventured into Bristol with his alto sax he made an instant impact, not least because of the startling contrast between his youthful looks and the blistering confidence and technique in his playing. Though it’s been a few years since that debut he still has some of that boyishness about him, hence perhaps the title of his new album: The Kid. The album, launched at the Gallimaufry during one of James’ regular Thursday Groove Den sessions, has been in development for a few years and its set of original tunes mines the deep love of jazz funk that James has developed, notably through regular working with James Brown’s bandleader Pee Wee Ellis. It was a top-notch band lined up for the launch, too, including drumming powerhouse Ian Matthews and guitarist Tony Remi alongside bassist Flash and Hammond star Jonny Henderson all augmented by the Easy Access Horn Section – i.e. Herbaliser’s Ralph Lamb and Andy Ross on trumpet and tenor sax respectively.
Things started swooningly with Eyelets, rich brass and classic Hammond undertowing the jaunty gospelish tune eventually melting down through a searingly rocky guitar solo allowing James the chance to soar away with the piece and begin lighting the fuse for the evening. Great funk always has to combine the tight certainty of disciplined structure with the upsurge of energy of thrilling solo play, like a volcanic eruption in a cold climate, and this band had that nailed with the trio of James, Tony Remi and Ian Matthews providing the molten core within the often easy-rolling arrangements. A case in point was Do Dat, stripped of the album version’s electronics what emerged was a classic groove that propelled blistering jazz-rock guitar and a clever flute solo from Andy Ross, the number stoking and rocking the crowded venue.
This was definitely James’ night but you couldn’t help but notice Jonny Henderson’s playing, always on the button, rich in the history of Hammond styles and perfectly fitted to each tune: given the success of Cory Henry’s Revival album maybe it’s time he made his own, too? He made an unassuming figure next to James, however, the saxophonist always hunched and wrenching the music out while Ian Matthews has the startled look of someone tricked into a parachute jump and discovering it’s great. And it is great – these retro-funk tunes have the air of the classics, with echoes of Tower of Power or The Meters, and by the end of the night there’s a general feel of good times in the air and a queue to buy the record . He may no longer actually be The Kid but the more mature James Morton is certainly not kidding about his funkage.
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