# CD review: The Lewis Express – The Lewis Express 2018: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/09/30/cd-review-the-lewis-express-the-lewis-express-2018-video/
- Published: 2018-09-30T00:11:13+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Releasedon Leeds Jazz & Soul labelATA Records, the debut LP fromThe Lewis Expresstakes
the rich legacy of the soul-jazz outfits of the 1960s as the initial blueprint of
their sound. Taking inspiration from the likes of Ramsey Lewis, Young-Holt, Eddie
Cano, Ray Bryant and Cannonball Adderley, they present a collection of tracks that
range from introspective spy film themes to burning Brazilian jazz.**

Primarily based in Leeds, The Lewis Express is comprised of many of the musicians
that have graced previous ATA releases: George Cooper, Piano (Abstract Orchestra)
Neil Innes, Bass (The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill), Sam Hobbs,
Drums (Dread Supreme, Tony Burkill, Matthew Bourne) and Pete Williams, Percussion(
The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill). Recorded over an intense
two-day session by the band of the same name, The Lewis Express is a nod to the 
classic soul jazz recordings of The Young Holt Trio / Young Holt Unlimited and Ramsey
Lewis, from who this group take their name. But, delivered with a distinctly European
feel. As with many of the classic Ramsey Lewis cuts this album was recorded live,
capturing the rich inter-relationship between the players and leaving in some of
that chunky room noise, lending the album a sound that’s as thick as a steak and
raw as a carrot.

Kicking off the album isLove Can’t Turn A Man, a slow burner introducing you to 
the piano of George Cooper as he works over a rock solid backbeat from drummer Sam
Hobbs. The addition of a rising brass line conjures up memories of love lost, or
indeed love never found.

IfLove Can’t Turn A Manshows the band in their most introspective of moods thenCancao
De Momentosees them at the other end of the spectrum, the swinging end. This is 
a latin-tinged stormer with a driving piano line and one of the toughest rhythm 
section workouts on the whole album. Add to this Pete Williams’ punctuating percussion
and you are looking at a track squarely aimed at the dancefloor.Brother Move Onis
probably the most recognizable as being in the soul jazz vein, with nods to such
classics as Ramsey Lewis’The ‘In’ CrowdandSoulful Strutby Young Holt Unlimited, 
particularly the latter. Moving intoHawkshaw Philly(their nod to session music legend
and leader of The Mohawks, Alan Hawkshaw) the band create what sounds like a rare
library cut and something diggers would give their back teeth for. Pinned to the
floor by Neil Innes’ heavy work on the double bass and Chris Dawkins’ guitar there
is some fantastic slow stabbing piano. The overall feel is something funky but slightly
sinister. ATA Records has a solid history of putting out releases with a cinematic
feel andTheme From The Watcheris a nod to this, conjuring up the sort of imagery
that coincides with the black and white spy thrillers of the 1960s.Last Man In The
Chain Ganghas a very strong Ramsey Lewis feel and offers some of the most powerful
piano playing of the whole album. The final track,Straight Seven Strut, is the only
vocal track of the album. The staccato swing and French words lend it some of the
qualities of 60s yé-yé music but with a far jazzier backbone, spiced with percussive
handclaps.

01 Love Can Turn a Man
 02 Cancao De Momento 03 Brother Move On 04 Hawkshaw Philly
05 Theme from “The Watcher” 06 Last Man in the Chain Gang 07 Straight Seven Strut

[Free regular download](https://dfiles.ru/files/12i9inf6y)

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