Review
Nick Rixen Quartet: Nick Rixen Quartet
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UK release date 08.04.2008
Seems I'm reviewing a lot of Jazz at the moment but I'm not complaining especially as the quality keeps pouring in. German Pianist Nick Rixen delivers the goods with his debut UK Album highlighting his original tunes and inventive take on this most exalted of genres.
Nick treads a Blue Note inspired path on the opening track 'Blue Bird'. Tenor sax player Colin Crawley blows magnificently throughout the whole proceedings and drummer Paul Canton's driving swing, sweetly underpins the band (mindful not to overstate his obvious authority.)
Rixen has harnessed well a good level of musical empathy within his quartet his "quiet fire" approach is his soulful benchmark. His choice introspective scalar approach to improvisation serves him judiciously, enabling him to reach new expressive heights in his soloing. 'Mantra' weighing in at 9mins. 34 shows off his clever compositional skills and where the band's interaction meets on another plane, proves to be most evocative as it shifts dramatically in colour.
It's a brave man indeed, who takes on 'Summertime' but Rixen injects a freshness and this surprisingly good take on Gershwin is the perfect ending to a promising debut.
Words Emrys Baird
