If you're a regular listener to our daily playlist selections you will have noticed at the weekend that we added a new Spotify track from Ivo Neame. It's from the Englishman's upcoming quartet album to be released on the Ubuntu label this autumn.
Ivo, who hails from Kent, and who is in our top 20 UK jazz pianists list high up at no. 12, shot to jazz fame on the UK scene after studies at the Royal Academy of Music in the breakout Anglo-Scandi trio Phronesis. A formidable player who impressed mightily too on his big band work Glimpses of Truth back in 2021 he's on the upcoming Zettalogue with saxist George Crowley, an erstwhile doyen of the Kentish Town Jazz at the Oxford scene, bassist Tom Farmer of Empirical and drummer James Maddren of Enemy.
Ingeniously arranged the melody of 'Personent Hodie' is from an ancient carol. Chances are you will know it however subliminally from childhood even if the name evades you. The melody was also interpreted so luminously by Wayne Shorter on his late period classic, Alegría issued 21 years ago. Ivo and co's treatment is very individualistic and has a certain tenderness that isn't afraid to be tough and non-sentimental at the same time framed by tremendous beat, insistent riffery in the set-up before the big melody, and full of sheer pulsating spirit.
We share 'Personent Hodie' again this time in a YouTube video sent to us today by the label. The full album is out at the end of October. Photo: Monika S. Jakubowska
Commentaires