JOE ARMON-JONES – Starting Today
aaamusic | On 23, May 2018
The adventurous composer and keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, Ezra Collective member, is one of the leading figures of British jazz.
His atmospheric debut solo album Starting Today, blending jazz with dub, soul, fusion, hip hop and afro beat, was released on Brownwood Recordings on May 4th. Joe’s diverse collective includes the inspirational trumpeter Dylan Jones supported by sax wizardry from Nubya Garcia and strong percussion from Moses Boyd.
The engaging and dynamic ‘Starting Today’, featuring strong vocals by Asheber, gives much joyful and uninhibited momentum for 9 minutes, whilst ‘Almost Went Too Far’ seems to float freely in a way that’s warm and inviting. ‘Mollison Dub’ is a slinky, shadowy and colourful number and the vibrant ‘London’s Face’, featuring the talented Oscar Jerome on guitar, has energy and inventiveness.
Together Joe’s band creates crisp, gritty and sometimes magical sounds. This is an accessible, cosmopolitan album with a spacey and welcoming feel.
