Artist: Tom Arthurs

Date of Release:

Catalogue no: 1450

Label: Not Applicable

Price: £11.99

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Track Listing

If there was ever any question that trumpeter Tom Arthurs was a world-class talent, then Explications leaves us in no doubt.
[Tom Barlow, Jazzwise ****]

This formidably skilful trio exude warmth, delight in their work, and a provocative contemporary lyricism.
[John Fordham, The Guardian ****]

This exciting international trio features three of the UK’s most sought after musicians, Tom Arthurs, Jasper Høiby and Stuart Ritchie. All have their own separate projects but came together as Arthurs.Høiby.Ritchie in 2005. Their debut album, Explications is simply one stage of what promises to be an exhilarating and ongoing journey for this fearsome trio – recorded just one day after a week of fervent gigs and virtually living in each other’s pockets, the album is a mix of intensely rhythmic original compositions inspired by twisted dance-musics and concentrated, yet intimate improvisation.

With inspiration coming not only from musicians such as Der Rote Bereich, Ellery Eskelin, Tim Berne, Jim Black and Ligeti but film directors Andrei Tarkovsky and Jean-Luc Godard and food scientist Harold McGhee (who inspired Heston Blumenthal no less), this is a trio with unlimited potential for invention and for the unexpected; manipulating and extending material through detailed improvisations, and with an individual take on the great composition/improvisation debate. Playing compositions by Arthurs, Jasper Høiby and Stuart Ritchie complete a trio of personalities drawing on a wealth of influences and experiences.

Reviews

13/04/2008 Various

What a great trio... their session was a corker!
[Jez Nelson, BBC Radio 3, Jazz on 3]

Tough discipline handled with verve and intelligence, most exciting record of the season.
[Jazz Review]

Their collective clarity of conception stands up magisterially.
[Mike Hobart, Financial Times]

Arthurs is superb on both trumpet and flugelhorn (comparisons with the young Kenny Wheeler aren't out of place), his tone pure, his range effortlessly wide. This threesome has deserved all the praise it's received this year. They are due for a lot more.
[John Fordham, The Guardian, **** live review]

mesmerising and subtly spacious
[Guardian Preview]

If jazz is to flourish as a living art form, young musicians such as Tom Arthurs will be a valuable commodity.
[James Griffiths, The Guardian]

Arthurs is ingenious in the way he can make a line seem at once rhapsodically free and focused.
[Ivan Hewett, Daily Telegraph]

Fun, passionate, beautiful music.
[Ben McDonnell, allaboutjazz.com]

Original, engaging and demanding music that’s a world away from retro-jazz.
[Kerstan Mackness, Timeout London]

What immediately impresses is the sureness and controlled power of Arthurs’s playing throughout; whether he’s rattling through a free-ish solo or punching out a quirky melody, his is an arresting sound, straightforwardly fleet where required, but also capable of extraordinary textural and dynamic variation.
[Chris Parker]