we have had to wait seven years for a follow up, but I’m pleased to report that this latest offering is every bit as good.
33 Jazz Records 33JAZZ305
Glen Manby (alto saxophone); John Gibbon (drums); Guy Shotton (piano); Olly Blanchflower (bass)
Recorded 25th October, 2022
After an impressive debut with his album Homecoming, we have had to wait seven years for a follow up, but I’m pleased to report that this latest offering is every bit as good.
Cardiff based altoist Glen Manby cites his influences as Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt and Phil Woods, and then goes about his own business which is delivering no nonsense hard bop in his own eloquent manner.
The earlier release paired Manby with rhythm section and a front-line partner in trumpeter Steve Waterman. Here he is the sole horn, and we really get chance to hear what he can do, and learn a little more about a musician who really should be far better known.
With the John Gibbons Trio in support, the altoist serves up seven standards and a couple of original compositions all delivered in the hard bop idiom. Manby’s sound moves from the plangent to the lyrical to full toned, and has a fluency between registers that catches the ear and constantly delights. Just hear how he handles Chick Corea’s ‘Windows’ with a firm yet light control on the upper register before easing into a relaxed swing buoyed up by the splendid rhythm section. The altoist follows this with a stunning run through the melody and solo on ‘I Hear A Rhapsody’, making it all sound so effortless.
I always think that in these recordings that were done and dusted in just a single day it would be interesting to know in what sequence the tunes were laid down. The reason why I say this is, as excellent as the opening numbers are, by the time we get to the fifth track, ‘When Sunny Gets Blue’, Manby has really hit his stride.
The title track is taken as a sumptuous ballad and Manby is relaxed and assured at this most gentle of tempos, and pianist Guy Shotton also plays a lovely fluid solo. From here on the saxophonist certainly means business with a crisply driving ‘The Blues Walk’. Penned by Clifford Brown, Manby seems completely at home working his way across Brown’s progressions with a beautifully fluent solo. The rhythm section here is right on the money with Blanchflower’s powerful bass line and John Gibbon’s tasteful drumming propelling the music along.
‘My Favourite Things’ is played with no hint of a vamp but purposefully stated by Manby in the melody as written by Richard Rodgers, and featuring excellent solos, first by Guy Shotton and the Manby who eschews all Traneisms in favour of a straight ahead and melodic solo that sticks faithfully to the chords. Manby and the trio then wrap things up with a swinging reading of ‘There Is No Greater Love’ that brings out excellent solos from alto, piano and bass as well as a neat round trading of fours with drummer John.
Before wrapping up this review, mention must be made of the two original compositions by the saxophonist, the opening ‘Robinson On Madison’ which is one of those melodies that lingers in the mind, and the excellent ‘The Road To Sougia’ which is as good as any of the standards on show on this wonderfully well paced album.
