Ross Lorraine Records RLR002 in association with ECN Music
All songs (lyrics and music) by composer and pianist Ross Lorraine. Produced by Claire Martin.
Featuring vocalists Joanna Eden, Iain Mackenzie, Noemi Nuti, Irene Serra, Christine Tobin and Charlie Wood.
Nikki Iles (piano); Mike Walker (guitar); Laurence Cottle (bass guitar); Ian Thomas (drums); Joe Giddey plays cello on ‘Scissors Paper Stone’ and ‘Sleep My Darling’
Classically trained Lorraine says he has broad musical tastes – jazz, classical, world folk music – and names Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Jacques Brel and Tom Waits as influences.
It’s a brave musician who puts out an album of twelve songs all self-penned – unless their name is Richard Rodgers or Rodney-Bennett, Irving Berlin, a pair of Gershwins or Cole Porter. Even if some of the songs are earworms, there’s always the risk of a curate’s egg with samey feel. In my ignorance I had never heard of Ross Lorraine, known to Mr Google as “a versatile composer and pianist whose roles have included being assistant and later editor for Sir Harrison Birtwistle.”
But this album was produced by Claire Martin, and features pianist Nikki Iles with Laurence Cottle on bass, along with a mix of new and established singers Iain Mackenzie, Joanna Eden, Noemi Nuti, Irene Serra, Christine Tobin and Charlie Wood. Who could be so closed-minded as not to grab the chance of a listen?
And I’m very glad I did grab because the songs are very varied. So too are the voices chosen to sing them. There are some neat lyrics like “Dear Betty I hate you, love George” sung by Iain Mackenzie, and some catchy songs like ‘You Never Knew Me’, delightfully sung by Irene Serra with some lovely piano by Nikki Iles.
Singer Charlie Wood was originally from Memphis and New Orleans, has a string of albums to his credit and a hint of Georgie Fame in his voice. Irish Christine Tobin has been a name on the UK jazz scene since the late 1980s and will probably be a more familiar name to more Brits. All the newer voices are ones to listen for in the future.
James McMillan – who started out playing for Sade – adds some very nice muted trumpet. He also engineered the recording and is not to be confused with Sir James of the same name, the Scottish classical composer and conductor. But he is listed as conductor for the United Kingdom entry in the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest. If you are consumed by curiosity the nation’s hopes were pinned on Imaani singing “Where Are You?”. But sadly, we did not win.
Italian Irene Serra has been through the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama. She refers to herself as “warbling jazz” but does much more that.
I’ve enjoyed seeing Iain Mackenzie with romping big bands at Ronnie Scotts but here he slots well into a small more restrained group. The same goes for powerhouse drummer Ian Thomas.
Laurence Cottle on electric bass is, like Nikki Iles, currently everywhere. And rightly so. Mike Walker’s guitar has a fluid feel which fits well here. Clearly a lot of thought and planning went into choosing the musicians, and singers, which is exactly what one would expect from Claire Martin. She also adds some backing vocals but no featured songs.
This is a something for everyone album. Being a simple soul who likes a little bounce, I go most for He Said, She Said and You Never Knew Me. Others will have different preferences.
“More From the Heart” won’t be a mass market hit disc but it could be a slow burn to wider recognition. Thanks to the designers, too, for a tasteful and pretty useful CD sleeve.
