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The Jamil Sheriff Octet

Backchat

Jazz Services JSLCD001

'Listeners will never tire of hearing a band that really swings.' Thus pianist/composer Jamil Sheriff, expounding the straightforward but effective philosophy behind his octet's music.

And swing they do, particularly on this (their second) CD's opener, 'The Happy Ending', and subsequently on such numbers as the bluesy 'The Regent Golden Fox and King'. The jaunty 'With All These Things to Remember', on the other hand, epitomises their more contemplative side, which enables them to 'take a simple idea and develop it and explore phrasing devices to enhance that one idea', in Sheriff's words.

Inspired by the likes of Don Grolnick, Tom Harrell, Chick Corea and Dave Douglas, Sheriff's music is rich in textural and dynamic variety and studded with attention-grabbing solos (the barrelling alto of Joel Purnell and the powerful tenor of Ben Martin particularly noteworthy); overall, Backchat is a hard-hitting, varied and highly listenable album.