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Killer Shrimp – 'Sincerely Whatever'

33 RECORDS: 33JAZZ 140

Damon Brown trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals; Ed Jones saxes, bass clarinet and percussion; Ben Hazleton bass; Troy Miller drums. Also Larry Bartley, bass on final track, Blue Soul. Recorded 10/08/2004 and 30/01/2005.

This is an album packed from first to last notes with dazzling, original compositions of hugely lyrical lines, sophisticated phrasing, rhythmical intelligence and beautifully postured attack. Brown and Jones share the honours for the writing and add On A Misty Night and Blue Soul, from the pens of Tadd Dameron and Blue Mitchell respectively.

Damon Brown is an intoxicatingly adroit instrumentalist. His precise approach yields tonal warmth and expressive breadth and depth evocative of Clifford Brown and Lester Bowie and every note is exactly placed. Ed Jones’ roisterous attack is the ideal counterpoint; furious yet skilful, Ed is forever an improviser and if you have a penchant for those hard-bopping tenors of the Art Blakey bands of the ‘50s, you might agree that he is every bit their equal. Ben Hazleton’s bass playing is not merely accommodating, but is both compassionate and empathetic, while Troy Miller’s drumming fuels the already boisterous blaze, as he cooks away behind, though always head-up to what’s going on around him.

The band is fairly new, fostered by a long-standing relationship between Brown and Jones who have featured in each other’s bands at home and away. The music was written with the current tour in mind and this is the band’s debut album. I found it utterly exciting and at times quite esoteric, although it is at the same time almost obviously entrenched in the jazz convention, but using some different approaches to texture and musicality. The whole is performed ecstatically; this band is cooking - with gas.

Reviewed by
ken cheetham
April 2006