Speake, Martin - My Ideal
SKU
21-Basho 7
Brilliant cool British alto player Martin Speake teams up with the Bad Plus pianist, Ethan Iverson. Martin Speake, the British alto saxophonist, is often compared to Lee Konitz. Speake has his own distinctive sound but like Konitz he has an enthusiasm for putting himself in new contexts, exploring new ideas and working across musical styles. He has become a significant jazz presence. Speake toured the UK with Ethan Iverson in 2002 when Ethan was musical director of the Mark Morris dance company in New York. As partners they are very well suited. Both musicians have the ability to turn a tune in an unexpected direction and to startle the audience with surprising twists and turns which reveal a true eclectism of taste and ability. Ethan Iverson's classical phrasing combined with virtuoso and often extremely powerful jazz technique mark him out as an unmistakeable presence. Combined with Martin Speake's quirky and often understated interpretations of melody lines the duo create an interesting balance of styles which works well."
"Iverson's powers are probably better revealed in these bare surroundings than they are in the Bad Plus"-John Fordham, The Guardian