Draw By Four: Framework

Rating: ★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Will Bartlett (org)
Sam Dunn (g)
Chris Draper (d, perc)
Jon Shenoy (ts, cl, bcl, f, af)

Label:

Jellymould Jazz

July/2018

Catalogue Number:

JM-JJ029

RecordDate:

June 2017

This debut album from reeds player Jon Shenoy (whose credits include Ivo Neame's large ensemble) and his group, Draw By Four, aims to take the 1960s organ quartet into new territory, and I suppose it succeeds. On the three-part ‘Framework Suite’, written in response to paintings by Winifred Knights, JMW Turner and Gill Holloway, the quartet experiment with atmospheric textures, folky threads and some slightly clumsy free improvisation. For the most part though they play it safe, with bluesy rubato introductions, breezy melodies, pootling organ-led swing grooves, and lengthy solos. Nothing's broken – the playing is solid and the tunes are inoffensive – but none of it is particularly inspiring. There's a conspicuous absence of tension and release and most of the tracks blur into one. It's just nice – Sunday afternoon background jazz for people who don't like surprises.

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