CD Review ....

CD REVIEW: Pete Saberton, London Jazz Orchestra, Guildhall Jazz Band – The Sfaberton Album

Pete Saberton. Photo credit: Garry Corbett.

Pete Saberton, London Jazz Orchestra, Guildhall Jazz Band -
The Saberton Album
(Babel Label BDV15138. CD Review by Jack Davies) 

On Wednesday, December 02, 2015
On a few occasions, I was lucky enough to stand crowded amongst the London Jazz Orchestra’s trumpet section on the small stage of Dalston’s Vortex Jazz Club. I remember staring, baffled, at Pete Saberton’s inscrutable face as the curious opening of Dragon Fever unfolded. Playing Sabbo’s music alongside the composer and his LJO will remain one of my fondest memories.

Saberton’s artistry was to extract new sounds from the traditional big band through unending melodies. His pieces are puzzling, challenging, warm and unpretentious. Pete’s classical training seeps through his music, which avoids repetition and is composed from beginning to end. This is big band music with snare drum, trumpet staccati, whole-tone woodwind and piano ostinati.

The Saberton Album aims to rectify a sad lack of recorded evidence of Saberton’s work. It’s a pity that only two of the album’s tracks feature the LJO with Saberton at the piano; these two tracks should be cherished.

Largely recorded in 2013, after Pete had passed away, Alcyona Mick is left to take up the piano chair on six of the album’s eleven tracks. She deftly weaves imaginative solos which complement Saberton’s music – her playing on Trilogy is a delight.

read more: http://news360.com/digestarticle/5slDJQp6KE2K12mr4QdXZg