Delectable, velvet night music

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 17

Delectable, velvet night music

By

ALLAN FRANCIS

NIGHT MUSIC. Morrissey Mullin, Dave Roach, John Critchinson, Jim Mullin and vocals. RCA VPL16706. It’s About Time. RCA VPL16702. It is but a short step from the heady modern jazz of Ralph MacDonald and Grover Washington to the English response from the Mullin gang. Obviously intended for the late night market which insists on a velvet feel, yet with enough substance to keep one’s mind on the music, “Night Music” has a delectable touch. As with the WashingtonMacDonald camp, the English group base their act on mostly originals with a dash of hardy romantics such as “I Won’t Last a Day Without You.” In short, this is jazz that is easy on the ear, but warrants serious attention. If “Fame” had teamd up with Johnny Dankworth, this is what would possibly have been the result -

eloquent saxophone with a beat that becomes irresistible when they reach “It’s About Time ... ”

But there is also a fair bit of Quincy Jones hovering in the background for those who still wonder just what Morrissey is all about. “Night Music” stresses the romantic, but “It’s About Time” comes at an earlier stage in the evening. The ensemble are generous with their vocalists, three singers feature between the two albums, presumably custom-built for the occasion. The tight harmony lines and disciplined rhythms demand everything just right. At first the group may sound relaxed, but it is soon apparent that much effort has gone into their artistry. After the spell of “Ships That Pass in the Night” or “Two Fools in a Storm” has dispelled, the magic is taken up by the spicy, rockish beat of “Bladerunner,” “Ounce of Bounce” and “Ol’Sax and Captain Axe” (Morrissey is not short on humour).

These are a find blend of youth and maturity. The vitality that pushes Dick Morrissey’s caution to the limits will find many takers from all generations. The recorded sound is lively and forward.

RONNIE LAWS. “Fever” and eight other tracks. Ronnie Laws, saxophone and flute with six accompanying musicians and strings. WORLD RECORDS R 09984. In much the same idiom as Morrissey, Ronnie Laws keeps to an even tighter closed-door policy with his nine tracks of jazz-rock numbers recorded in 1976. The title track is. of course, the old Peggy Lee standard which Radio New Zealand have hammered to near death, saved only by the infinite patience of the listeners and the sheer artistry of the singer. Laws treats it with the respect it deserves and it is up-dated logically and within the

grounds of expectation.

Most of the tunes are once again originals, with four being entirely homegrown material. Even though it was recorded some nine years ago, the sound is fresh anad quite contemporary. All up, it is as good as most around today and will probably survive as a more permanent example of small group jazz rock. The recorded sound is up to the newer RCA-Coda label in the preceding review.

THE SEA. Rod Mckuen and Anita Kerr with the San Sebastien Strings. WARNER BROS. Cassette released by WEA M 5 1670.

Prompted by the need for relaxation, this whiskered old-timer has been revived for those who are finding the current musical scene over-stimulating or lacking.

As the old familiar strains of “My Friend the Sea” washes over the listeners once more, I am forced to agree that it does indeed achieve the purpose it sets out to do.