This disc represents, for me, my first experience with pianist/vocalist Ian Shaw – who’s been lauded by the UK press with various awards for best male jazz vocalist – and I have to be honest with you, the English concept of modern jazz music sometimes leaves me quite cold. While there have been numerous classic jazz icons to emerge from the UK jazz scene, unfortunately, and with rare exception (Linn Records stable mate Claire Martin definitely springs to mind), very little that I hear strikes the appropriate chord for me personally. And such is the case with Ian Shaw’s first collection of original tunes, Lifejacket. Despite some excellent arrangements and playing by all involved, I’m just having a real problem getting past the songs – the best and most listenable of which (for me) are just a little too self-wallowing and maudlin for my tastes. And while I really can appreciate much of what strikes me as his motivation for the subject material of the songs, unfortunately, I have much less of an appreciation for their musical incarnations as presented here.
From a technical standpoint, the multichannel SACD disc is exceptionally well done, and offers a remarkably good representation of the performances. Unfortunately, those performances just didn’t create any resemblance of a spark for me; however, they could very well be your cup of tea. English music across a variety of genres has always struck me as either hit or miss; many of my friends and family are baffled by my fascination with the English folk/prog rock group Strawbs, whom I adore – but they find almost totally unlistenable. I guess beauty is, as always, in the eye of the beholder. You can sample much of this album online at Linn’s website and elsewhere, so go check it out for yourself – you may very well like what you hear.
TrackList: Love At First Tequila; Lifejacket; She’s Loaded; A Good And Simple Man; Glue; Forty-Two; Northop Road; Pamela; I Want To Live In Paris; Hiraeth; My Safest Place; Letter From A Dead Soldier; Flowers.
— Tom Gibbs
