# CD review: Leo Richardson – Move 2019: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/11/27/cd-review-leo-richardson-move-2019-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2019-11-27T18:35:46+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**“Move” is the second album from tenor sax specialist Leo Richardson, and represents
the follow up to his highly successful 2017 début for Ubuntu, “The Chase”.**

Like Scott Hamilton and Simon Spillett Richardson is a saxophonist in thrall to 
an earlier age, in this case the golden era of hard bop and particularly the output
of the Blue Note and Prestige record labels. Richardson cites jazz immortals such
as drummer Art Blakey, pianist Horace Silver and saxophonists Joe Henderson, Dexter
Gordon and John Coltrane as primary influences on his own playing.

Leo Richardson is the son of the celebrated British bassist Jim Richardson, one 
time leader of the fondly remembered band Pogo and an in demand sideman who has 
worked with many of the greats of the music including the late trumpeter and vocalist
Chet Baker.  Jim Richardson acts as Leo’s co-producer on “Move”, acting as part 
of a production team that also includes recording engineers Lester Salmins, Alex
Bonney and John Webber.

It was Jim Richardson who first introduced the young Leo to jazz, nurturing his 
interest in, and love of, the music. Leo subsequently studied jazz at the Trinity
School of Music in London where his tutors included Jean Toussaint, Julian Siegel,
Mark Lockheart, Martin Speake and Mick Foster.

Leo graduated from Trinity in 2013 with a First Class Honours Degree in Jazz Performance.
Besides leading his own quartet he has also become an in demand sideman who has 
worked with an impressive array of jazz and pop artists, including Kylie Minogue,
Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, Wet Wet Wet, Heritage Orchestra, Candi Staton, John
Newman, Ella Eyre, Jessie Ware, The BBC Proms, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, Submotion
Orchestra, Ronan Keating, Blue, Peter Andre, Mulatu Astatke, Anne-Marie, Clare Teal,
Roger Taylor (Queen), Toyah Wilcox, Il Divo, The Heliocentrics, Ben Sidran, Elaine
Delmar, Vula Malinga, Alan Skidmore, Dick Pearce, Norma Winstone, Gary Husband, 
Simon Purcell, Andrew McCormack and Jim Mullen. It’s quite a list, and by no means
comprehensive.

In 2017 Leo Richardson released the first album by his regular jazz quartet featuring
pianist Rick Simpson, bassist Mark Lewandowski and drummer Ed Richardson,  apparently
no relation. “The Chase” also featured guest appearances by trumpeter Quentin Collins
and Richardson’s fellow tenor man, and another significant influence, the great 
Alan Skidmore.

Skidmore provides the liner notes this time round while the guest slot goes to the
leading contemporary tenor saxophonist Alex Garnett. There’s also one change to 
the regular quartet line up with Tim Thornton taking over bass duties from Mark 
Lewandowski.

Thornton was already in the band when I reviewed the quartet’s performance at Kenilworth
Jazz Club in December 2017. The second set included a number of what were then ‘
new tunes’ and several of these appear on this second album.

Admirers of Richardson’s début won’t be disappointed by this new recording, which
sees the saxophonist continuing to hone his approach and develop his sound. He says
of his latest release;
 “The compositions on ‘Move’ are very much a natural progression
from the first album. The music has developed and matured, whilst instilling the
essence of hard bop but remaining more contemporary and moving in different directions.
The title ‘Move’ means just this! The music is very much in the hard bop vein but
exploring newer contemporary avenues as a band and compositionally”.

He continues; “I never thought I’d release my second album so soon after the first,
but I just love playing with this band, so I thought why not?! The rhythm section
in this quartet is absolutely world class and I’m very lucky to be able to play 
my music with them and develop it as a band.”

The Latin-esque opener “The Demise” gets things off to a rousing start with Richardson
digging in with some Coltrane-esque tenor while Simpson impresses with a feverishly
inventive piano solo. There’s also something of a feature for Ed Richardson at the
drums as he plays the Elvin Jones role. At Kenilworth Richardson informed us that
the tune title was inspired by “the folly of our current world leaders”.  Little
seems to have changed in the intervening two years, if anything it’s got even worse!

It’s all enough to provoke a bout of “Effin, & Jeffin”, the title of another tune
that was played at Kenilworth. A rolling piano figure sets the scene before Richardson
again probes deeply and incisively on tenor with further solos coming from Simpson
on piano and the always impressive Thornton at the bass. The vitality of the quartet’s
reading of this tune at Kenilworth was particularly noteworthy and they bring similar
qualities to this energetic and powerful recorded version.

“Martini Shuffle” combines a boppish theme with swinging, hard driving rhythms and
includes fluent and confident solos from Richardson on tenor,  Simpson on piano 
and Thornton at the bass.

Title track “Move” embraces more of a modal, contemporary feel while still remaining
true to the hard bop virtues. The versatile Simpson, recently seen at Brecon Jazz
Festival with saxophonist Karen Sharp, leads off the solos on piano, his inventiveness
paving the way for a major statement on tenor from the leader.

The ballad “E.F.G.”, written for Richardson’s wife Liz (rather than the sponsors
of London Jazz Festival!) signals a welcome change of mood and pace following the
intensity of the first four pieces. It is ushered in by a passage of lyrical solo
piano from Simpson and also features the melodic bass playing of Thornton. In his
liner notes Skidmore justifiably compares the ballad playing of Leo Richardson with
that of Dexter Gordon. Meanwhile Ed Richardson’s delicate brush work emphasises 
his empathy and sensitivity.

As its title suggests the lively,  be-boppish “Mr. Tim”  offers a showcase for the
dexterous and agile bass soloing of Tim Thornton. He takes the first solo, followed
by a fluent Richardson on tenor and an exuberant Simpson at the piano. Meanwhile
Ed Richardson gets to enjoy a series of invigorating drum breaks.

Another pause for breath with the medium tempo ballad “Peace”, which sees Richardson
combining tenderness with great technical and improvisational facility as he stretches
out at length on tenor. He’s followed on piano by the ever imaginative Simpson.

The album concludes with the cunningly titled “Second Wind”, which features the 
additional tenor saxophone of guest Alex Garnett, one of Richardson’s pals from 
his regular gigs at Ronnie Scott’s. This is an old fashioned, high octane, hugely
enjoyable two tenor tear up with the two horn men exchanging phrases and solos over
the fiercely swinging grooves generated by Simpson, Thornton and Ed Richardson. 
At one juncture Simpson drops out and the two saxophonists joust good naturedly,
exchanging phrases above a backdrop of roiling drums.

Simpson subsequently comes into his own with a rollicking piano solo and Ed Richardson
features strongly towards the close.

Those who enjoyed “The Chase” will no doubt relish Richardson’s second offering.
Those hard bop leanings are again very much in evidence, but there is also a growing
sophistication about the writing and a more overt John Coltrane influence this time
round.

The playing from all concerned is excellent throughout with Thornton fitting seamlessly
into the band after playing the whole of the extensive 2017 tour.

Although it’s impossible to reproduce the impact of the début the new album has 
again been very well received by the jazz press and the Leo Richardson Quartet remains
a hugely exciting and highly popular live draw.

**Tracks**

01. The Demise
 02. Effin’ & Jeffin’ 03. Martini Shuffle 04. Move 05. E.F.G. 06.
Mr. Tim 07. Peace 08. Second Wind

**Leo Richardson – tenor saxophone**
 **Rick Simpson – piano** **Tim Thornton – 
bass** **Ed Richardson – drums** **Alex Garnett – tenor saxophone**

![Картинки по запросу Leo Richardson - Move](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-images-
amazon.com/images/I/71d45mmYh7L._SL1500_.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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