I don’t have the slightest idea where Hep Jazz Records finds these obscure musicians from the UK. Just when you think you know of every jazz artist, Hep Jazz owner Alastair Robertson throws some release by a ringer that gets your head scratchin’ in wonder. This time around, we’ve got this album which was originally recorded in 1980 and 82, and wasn’t put together unto a final product until 1989. Who knows what dark crevice it had been hiding in until now, but you’re going to be blown away by it.
Wellins himself played the tenor sax and composed most of the music here. He’s accompanied by a mix and match collection with a foundation of Pete Jacobsen/p, Ken Baldock/b and Spike Wells/dr. Kenny Wheeler/tp-fh, Chris Karan/perc and the Delme String Quartet pop in and out of a few songs as well to keep the textures and moods interesting and varied. The main feature is a wide ranging three part “Birds of Brazil” suite that is sort of a jazz version of Holst’s Planets: the songs take you on far reaching journeys and personalities, with come and go appearances of percussion, woodwinds, bass, keyboards and drums with a wondrously kaleidoscopic effect on the ears. A boppingly bluesy “Moonray” has Wellins’ tenor take you on a ride from the basement to the penthouse, while his take of “Angel Eyes” with Jacobsen and strings is as agonizingly as you’d ever want to get. Enough to make Sinatra jealous. After a warm solo piece by the pianist, the leader closes with a hot little take of Monk’s “In Walked Bud” making this a disc that covers every base in the ball park. You’ll be amazed by the music by this Great Scot!
Hep Jazz Records
www.hepjazz.com