Chiromancy
Tim Rollinson Trio
Independent
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Unlike brass and woodwind instruments, which have played pivotal roles in jazz from its inception, the guitar did not become a principal voice in the genre until the rise of jazz-rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tim Rollinson’s latest album uses the classic trio format in five original compositions and some choice standards to demonstrate his knack for blending groove-driven sections with freewheeling improvisation, crafting a sonic journey that balances structure with freedom. With his stellar rhythm compatriots, Brett Hirst (bass) and Toby Hall (drums), maintaining the equilibrium with snappy pulses and f luid movements, Rollinson transitions his guitar playing skilfully from anchored grooves to untethered improvisations that flow naturally. A Track Winding Back, so called because the melody bears a slight resemblance in phrasing to a Slim Dusty classic, opens the album, with the theme played out of time and soon morphing into a jazz-reggae groove. The composition Adjacent already sounds like a jazz standard, complete with a stop chorus and a drum solo on brushes. At the same time, the title track, Chiromancy, provides a showcase for bassist Hirst and for Rollinson’s nimble mastery, both as a musician and as a composer. Overall, the guitarist has created a sonic landscape that maintains an element of playfulness and variety throughout.
Listen to the interview of Tim Rollinson in A Jazz Hour presented by Barry O’Sullivan.
For more information about this new release, click here.