Gareth Williams - Feel the Force
Friday, February 27, 2009
Gareth Williams has always been recognised on the British jazz scene as an improviser with a subtle but effective touch, whether he finds himself accompanying singers like Claire Martin or playing acid jazz with Us3. His new record, however, signals a change of course, moving him in the direction of the beefed-up power trio, which you might think suits his retro-inclined 70s fashion sense and mod leanings. But as Selwyn Harris finds out, there’s more to Williams than meets the eye – a musician keen to explore his own identity and one not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
Shock! is the title of the debut album by the Gareth Williams Power trio. Those who know the pianist, perhaps as vocalist Claire Martin’s right-hand man, or as a sideman for Jim Mullen, Clark Tracey, Iain Ballamy or Tommy Smith among others, may just wonder if we’re talking about the same Gareth Williams here. The main riff on the CD’s title track played on Fender Rhodes keys, and doubled on electric bass, is straight out of the manual of 1970s classic rock guitar and suggests a radical departure from the type of hugely spirited acoustic jazz we’ve ordinarily come to expect of Williams. But it’s not typical of the recording; he’s still a long way from becoming the monster of fusion implied by the band name and title. This is a trio with another kind of ‘Power’, one that Williams qualifies in the CD sleeve booklet as equating to “an inner conviction”.
Formed three years ago, Williams’ electric band features the heavy-duty rhythm section of drummer Ian Thomas and electric bassist Laurence Cottle (also the album’s producer) both of whom Williams originally met while a dep for veteran Scottish guitar hero Jim Mullen. Thomas’ pop celebrity-studded CV includes tours with the likes of Eric Clapton, Sting and Paul McCartney not to mention a long list of film and TV music sessions.
The Jaco-acolyte Laurence Cottle meanwhile is top of the pile as far as British electric fusion bassists are concerned. But they’re also musicians that are as conversant with the legacy of acoustic jazz as they are the type of jazz that crosses the border into R&B, rock and funk.
This is an extract from Jazzwise Issue #128 – to read the full article Subscribe Here