Sharp Little Bones: Volumes I & II

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Simon Paterson (b, el b)
Paul Deats (p, ky)
Toni Kofi (ts)
Andrew Wood (d)

Label:

Ubuntu

July/2023

Media Format:

2 CD, DL

Catalogue Number:

UBU0138

RecordDate:

Rec. Summer 2022

Paterson, Deats and Wood line up as the current house band at Peggy's Skylight in Nottingham and this group – whose name is unexplained – is Paterson's newest venture. He's an educator as well as a performer. and has ranged widely through the musical undergrowth, from pop to rock to funk and beyond. This new music, he says, is rooted in bebop and blues, coloured by electronics, hints at Hancock, and is characterised by élan and enthusiasm.

Tony Kofi came on board at a gig and has stayed with the project, playing tenor throughout, and is clearly at one with Paterson's multi-compositional direction. These 13 pieces – all by Paterson and hugely varied – were taped over two days, and packed into this well-presented double album format, and illuminated by an essay from Jazzwise's own Stuart Nicholson.

Candidly, I liked this much more than I expected to. I liked its variety, its sense of itself: no holding back, Peterson's bass figures, whether electric or acoustic, anchoring everything capably. I liked ‘Roo's Blues’ with Deats on Rhodes, and Kofi in full swing, and ‘Mackerel Sky’ with its insinuating motif. There's a whole lot of music here, some of it well outside my jazz remit, but engaging nonetheless. Hard to describe, eclectic for sure, with technology sparingly used.

Originally a classicist, Paterson has described how he has since written for TV, adverts, short films, plays, and cartoons, his compositions like a palimpsest of influences garnered from his absorption into these musically varied worlds. This would be good to hear live, I’d guess.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues
  • Free bonus CDs

From £6.75 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.78 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Reviews Database

  • Reviews Database access
  • Discover 10,000+ reviews

From £6.75 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums throughout the year

From £6.75 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £6.75

Start your journey and discover the very best music from around the world.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more