Hey Joe
Yeah, newcomer guitarist Joe Herbert brings a quietly assured voice to the UK jazz scene with Deeply, a debut that leans into mood, tone and emotional honesty. Growing up in Bedford and later studying music at Southampton University, Herbert clearly absorbed a deep appreciation for guitarists like Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, whose passionate playing and soulful touch are echoed here without ever feeling imitative.
Herbert is joined by Toby Yapp on double bass, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music; and Josh Walker-Martin, a drummer who studied at the London College of Music and Guildhall. Together, the trio offer a sensitive, thoughtful interplay that supports the music’s introspective leanings while keeping the album grounded in groove and shape.
The title track, a graceful, melancholic ballad, is kept until the end, allowing the album to unfold gently before arriving at its most emotionally direct moment. Herbert’s affinity for slow, yearning melodies runs through the record, but Deeply avoids becoming overly inward-looking thanks to the group’s ability to shift the dynamic subtly and keep things moving.
Much of the album explores the lower, “baritone” end of the guitar’s range – a register that Herbert seems particularly drawn to and comfortable within. His phrasing here is unhurried and expressive, favouring space and tone over flashiness. But he’s not afraid to venture out, finding more far-flung frets when the moment calls for it.
‘Limbo’ stands out as one of the more rhythmically active trio tracks, with Walker-Martin pushing the group forward with nimble, conversational drumming. And while the opener is brief, most tracks stretch into the 4 and 5 minute mark, allowing room for ideas to settle and develop.
‘Emily’s Blues’ may be the album’s most complete statement – a tune that not only showcases Herbert’s writing but gives Yapp space to walk the line with warmth and confidence. His tone and approach bring to mind the feel of Jacob Gryn, known for his work with Sultan Stevenson—another sign that this trio is tapping into a rich seam of young UK jazz talent.
For those curious to hear these tunes live, the trio will be playing downstairs at the Vortex in east London soon – a fittingly intimate venue for a band whose strength lies in its subtlety and depth of feeling.
- Hear the trio downstairs at the Vortex on Thursday evening. Deeply (Heroides Records) is available here. ‘Planets’ from the album, the fourth of the nine tracks, is performed in the video recorded in December last year, above.
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