C. L. Bob by C. L. Bob

Elegant and diverse, prepare yourself to be taken on an hours musical adventure into the new world of C. L. Bob and its instrumental music.

Imagine Coltrane, Weather Report and the Modern Jazz Quartet (circa 1951-52 Savoy recordings) rather heartedly discussing the swing potential of Dolphy's Out To Lunch, while sitting cramped in a box car heading to Dixie, and you kind of get the idea of C. L. Bob.

That said, the glue that holds all this in place is the distinctive feel of the band itself. Recorded live over four days at the Tokerahi homestead in North Otago, this music is challenging, graceful, soulful and yes, fun. Needless to say, it cooks. Moments of pure joy include: David Leahy's double bass solo on Jane, which glides, caresses and somehow "talks" a mood; John Bell's mantra-like vibraphone patterns on Summer Song; the instantly silly group effort of Cartoon Donkey (complete with Bonanza motif); and the mournful, minor-key delicacy of Dancing Di, a piece written for a dead friend. There is so much to discover in C. L. Bob. If you have an interest in jazz, this is a must. And at all costs, see them live next time they hit town. - Chris Mooar

The Bells by Norman Meehan

The Norman Meehan Quintet.
New Zealand's Premier Piano Jazz Quintet.
"A highly satisfying set of original acoustic jazz. The playing is soulful, swinging and spacious and the whole thing beautifully recorded, capturing the atmosphere and frisson of a live performance." - Nick Bollinger.
"The future of New Zealand jazz is in good hands, on the evidence of this outstanding CD of original music. A well played collection of seductive original material with a subversive edge. A thorougly enjoyable listen." - Mike Nock

Tongue Grooves by Syzygy

A highly charged, take no prisoners musical beast. Not for the faint at heart. No covers or standards here...Jazz yes, instrumental improvisation more so. Music that refuses to be restricted, dynamic spacious and powerful. Led by the prodigous alto sax and compositional talent of chief songwriter Jeff Henderson.  Rejoice in a band who are in the Now. High class mayhem.

Review:
Jazz these days most often breaks down into the serviceable, the atmosphere, the homages, and the honourable but dull. Fortunately there's always that avante-guitar and abrasive saxophone stuff (with a multiple threat percussionist, of course). It isn't easy; its unusually worth the effort and, when it's not taking itself too seriously, is a lot of fun. It can also sound edgy and aggressive, so it's easy to hear why people associate it with New York. It is heard around here, and albums by it's finest exponents, such as John Zorn and James Blood Ulmer, are hard to find, usually excellent but seem to be of minor interest.

So if that edgy stuff suffers for lack of audience here, it's doubly difficult for a New Zealand band to be working in that style.
Syzygy, out of Wellington, have been at this for a while and that's clear on Tongue Grooves, a thoroughly difficult and rewards trip through sometimes twisting and often through sometimes twisting and often anxious knots of melody.

On the more nuggety tunes (Teriu le Mon, The Rise) there's a sharp, recognizable shorthand to their style, but they can also include a short ambient bass'n'vibes piece (Tease), bring home some unashamedly 70's blistering fusion funk guitar and vibes on Nquitpausuckowashawmen (sic), a carousel of saxophone rap (Demented number 2) and a darling Afrobeat journey on Nigeria held down by formidable bass and percussion.
And there's a network of chant-type, minimalist-style vocal variations on the minute-long Sayydah's Tongue Grove.

Syzygy - aptly billing themselves as a creative music ensemble - are amusingly trustworthy guides through experimental territory. If it's a trip you fancy, start with Nigeria and that funky one with the impossible title - and there'll be no looking back. - Graham Reid