Joe Webb: Collblanc
Author: Peter Jones
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Joe Webb (p) |
Label: |
Edition Records |
Magazine Review Date: |
April/2024 |
Media Format: |
7” EP, DL |
Catalogue Number: |
EDN1238 |
RecordDate: |
Rec. 25-26 July 2023 |
A quick Google reveals that Collblanc is a suburb of Barcelona: qué significa? No importa: the main point of interest about this five-track EP - released on seven-inch magenta coloured vinyl, no less - is that it features pianist Joe Webb’s new trio. It also heralds the arrival of a new album later in the year. So there’s plenty to look forward to.
Always inspired by the pianists of the 1940s and 50s, Webb has also long declared his deep affinity for the guitar bands of the 1990s. But while the echoes of Monk, Fats Waller and Oscar Peterson are obvious, those of Britpop are perhaps more evident in the attitude shown on tracks like ‘CCTV’ (recalling, with its percussive descending bassline, the late, lamented rock band Hard-Fi).
There’s some exuberant Monk-style stride piano on ‘Munchin’ in Munchen’, as well as more reflective moments on the dawdling solo piano piece ‘Silently’ and on the title track. The latter, with its insistent drone backing and slow, chiming waltz-time melody, is reminiscent of Fergus McCreadie’s recent work.
Collblanc does not suggest a major new departure for Webb, but this music does more than simply recall the past, instead fusing the techniques of the old masters with a lot of good ideas from the present.
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