Stunt Records STUCD25092 & STULP25091

Charlie Wood (vocal, piano, organ); Robin Aspland (piano); Daniel Franck (bass); Laurence Cottle (bass); Ian Thomas (drums); Cornelia Nilsson (drums;  Áyoe Angelica & Sophie Ziedoy (choir)
Recorded September 2024 & January 2025

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, but resident in the UK, Wood was exposed to a diverse musical culture from the outset, and this broadmindedness is something that has coloured his own music no more so than in this engaging set.

Recorded partly in the UK and completed in Copenhagen, Denmark the vocalist, pianist and songwriter performs an intoxicating blend of standards, songs by Sam Cook, Elvis Costello, Amy Winehouse, Paul Simon and John Lennon and a couple of attractive originals thrown in for good measure.

With a core lineup of piano, bass and drums, Wood also introduces some tasteful vocals from the choir of Áyoe Angelica & Sophie Ziedoy, strings and his own organ playing that are elegantly arranged to create interesting textures within the chosen songs.

Kicking off with a standard in Jimmy Rowles ‘A Timeless Place’ Wood imbues the lyrics of Norma Winstone with heartfelt emotion, and later in the set turns in memorable performances of Hoagy Carmichael’s ‘Stardust’ and ‘Willow Weep for Me’ by Anne Ronell.

Picking on some more recent compositions Charlie Wood serves up stunning readings of ‘Shipbuilding’ from the pens of Clive Langer and Elvis Costello (featuring some tasteful trumpet from James McMillan) and my particular favourite, Amy Winehouse’s ‘Love Is a Losing Game’ complete with superb string arrangement for violins and cello. The wonderful sounds conjured up from the strings is not lost on Wood and uses the ensemble again on an exquisite reading of ‘Love’ by John Lennon.

Seemingly wishing to keep his own compositions playing second fiddle to the more well-known songs he needn’t have been so modest as his originals ‘Love Can’t Live Alone’ and ‘Home’ are fine songs that reveal an astute feel for writing as well as performing, as he does impeccably and with much emotion and passion throughout this lovely recording.