Label: Ubuntu Music, 2024
Personnel - John Williamson: double bass; Alex Hitchock: tenor saxophone; Jonny Mansfield: vibraphone; Jay Davis: drums; Immy Churchill: voice; Alex Wilson: piano.
The up-and-coming British bassist John Williamson makes a compelling entrance into the jazz world as a leader with his debut album, The Northern Sea. Featuring a talented roster of trusted collaborators from the modern UK jazz scene, the album presents 10 original compositions, ranging from tranquil ballads to invigorating swing pieces. Written over three years, each piece began as a melodic fragment, reflecting Williamson’s distinctive approach to composition, where melody takes precedence.
“Contrafact 1”, based on a C-major structure taken from the jazz standard “I Should Care”, showcases Williamson’s bass in a commanding lead role, setting the groove with a confident swing. On this number, Jonny Mansfield’s vibraphone ‘sings’ blissfully melodies, and Alex Hitchcock’s tenor sax explores with rhythmic provocation and articulated language. This theme of energetic interplay continues in “Contrafact 2”, a brisk, high-energy number where Williamson and drummer Jay Davis drive a relentless swing, with Hitchcock and Mansfield exchanging fiery unison lines. “Contract 3”, a chord-less, bop-inspired trio piece, strips things back to a classic saxophone-bass-drums format, emphasizing pure rhythmic and melodic dialogue.
The title cut, “The Northern Sea”, falls into a modern kind of daring, incorporating harmonically rich piano playing by Alex Wilson and thrilling exchanges between saxophone and vibraphone. The voice of Immy Chuchill adds a haunting dimension, reappearing on “2700 Q Street Northwest”, a radiant track that features a folk-inspired melody, vibrant interplay between piano and vibes for a colorful background, and an unaccompanied bass dissertation that exudes optimism.
More subdued moments are found in “Gozo”, a soft-spoken rubato ballad that soars in the ether with vibraphone suspensions; “Nothing Grows in Concrete”, a sensitively brushed lullaby inspired by Sibelius’ “Symphony Number 2”; and “Get Out While It’s Light”, another beautifully crafted ballad elevated by Hitchcock’s slippery tenor solo and occasionally stirred by Davis’ engaging drumming.
Throughout the record, the rapport among the musicians is palpable, enabling a seamless exploration of melody, texture, and emotional depth. The Northern Sea is a confident and promising debut that firmly establishes Williamson as a rising star in contemporary jazz.
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Contrafact 1 ► 04 - The Northern Sea ► 10 - 2700 Q Street Northwest