Jeff Williams Live at the London Jazz Festival - Road Tales

Jeff Williams
Live at the London Jazz Festival - Road Tales
Whirlwind

Ohio native, drummer Jeff Williams, has become part of the London England jazz scene, and "Road Tales" is his sixth release for Whirlwind. This live performance has him leading a quartet with longtime collaborators, altoist John O'Gallagher and tenor saxophonist Josh Arcoleo, and bassist Sam Lasserson completing the rhythm section.

A simple reference point for this quartet's music might be Ornette Coleman's Quartet or Old and New Dreams, with a bit of some of the AACM or BAG bands tossed in. "New and Old" is not a composition inspired by the group Old and New Dreams, but instead inspired by his father's passing. Against the rhythm section's free-floating support, Arcoleo robust and rambunctious tenor sax impresses. He mixes flurries of notes with sustained tones. Bassist Lasserson is an anchor for this band as well as a solid soloist. O'Gallagher provides a contrast in tone but also has a rowdy sense in his playing.

While the entire performance was fascinating, there were some standout moments. There is a Caribbean feel to "Borderline" with the two horns stating the melodic line over Williams' light drumming. O'Gallagher takes a lengthy, heated solo followed by one by Lasserson. Williams' tempestuous drum solo opens up "Oddity," with interesting rhythm changes and O'Gallagher's fiery alto sax. Among the other selections are three compositions, "Under The Radar," "Search Me," and "Scrunge," that form what Williams laughingly refers to as "the airport security suite." It is an intriguing 'suite' mixing some free-floating and free form improvisations with funk sections.

There is much to praise about "Road Tales." Jeff Williams and his first-rate quartet provide listeners with an excellent and engaging set of contemporary jazz.

I received a download to review from a publicist. Here is "Double Life" from the album.