Album review: Michael Janisch: Purpose Built

Published on Sunday 18 October 2009 21:22

JAZZ MICHAEL JANISCH: PURPOSE BUILT WHIRLWIND RECORDINGS, £11.74

THE London-based American bass player Michael Janisch is a familiar face north of the Border, through his work with Tommy Smith and Paul Towndrow, though none of his Scottish collaborators are heard on this infectiously vibrant debut disc.

The standard is predictably high. Janisch, on acoustic and electric bass, and drummer Johnathan Blake are ever present in a shifting Anglo-American cast, including their duet version of the Coltrane classic Moment's Notice. He draws mainly on his own meaty compositions, augmented by the duet, the standard Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing, a piano trio take on Billy Strayhorn's Blood Count and Miles Davis' Milestones.

The alternating line-ups feature variations in instruments and players, and the permutations of trumpet, tenor and alto saxophone, piano, vibes and guitar ensure a constantly fresh feel to the music.