Troyka: Moxxy

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Kit Downes (p)
Chris Montague (g)
Kit Downes (ts, sop)

Label:

Edition Records

June/2012

Catalogue Number:

EDN 1033

RecordDate:

date not stated

Troyka freshened up the whole notion of UK electric jazz with the very promising self-titled debut in 2009. They've gone one better here with Moxxy, their second release on Edition Records. With more emphasis on a live sound and improv, the trio bring a greater light and shade to this album, perfecting a tricky balancing act between brainy math rock and brawny jam band improv. Montague's guitar and Kit Downes' organ create inventive new sounds and textural dialogue that draws from the processes of electronics and post-rock, and moves some steps beyond the more familiar roles of the organ-guitar-drums jazz trio tradition. Montague's use of a loop station and effects pedals is always tasteful and never showy, and the improv is fiery but restrained by narrative dictates, countering the tags of “new prog” sometimes hurled at them. In a set that's spoilt for highlights, Downes' ‘Crawler’ has some great moments with his humming organ tucked in behind a fine cranked up bluesy R&B guitar solo; the lazily dreamlike Bill Frisell-influenced Montague/Blackmore ‘Rest’! ‘Oedipus’ finds the missing link between Medeski Martin & Wood and Talking Heads; the jam band slamming funk strut of ‘Zebra’ is a hip hop group sample inwaiting, and the glorious space rock ballad anthem ‘Chaplin’, a tribute to the cinematic comic genius, closes the CD – a Pink Floyd for jazz fans. Anyone who thinks jazz has become dull and outmoded needs look no further than Moxxy for an example of the exciting new breed.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more