Artist: The Works

Date of Release:

Catalogue no: BLR0045

Label: Better Late Records

Price: £12

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Track Listing

Appearances by

Mark Lockheart, Patrick Wood

Inspired by the great instrumental bands of the early 1970s, Patrick Wood’s compositions combine jazz, world music, rock, folk and roots influences in a way that is both accessible and sophisticated. The Works put collective improvisation at the heart of their approach, mixing lyrical melodic soundscapes with exhilarating soloing and killer grooves. Patrick’s collaborators are some of the finest and most interesting musicians in the U.K., and they include guest guitarist Tony Remy whose “relentless invention, soulful touch and incredible energy have gained worldwide recognition and respect” (Chris Parker, The Times).

Patrick Wood – Piano, Rhodes, Synths, Acoustic and Electric Guitars

Mark Lockheart – Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet

Neville Malcolm – Electric and Acoustic Bass

Nic France – Drums and Percussion

with

Tony Remy – Guitar

Reviews

02/05/2005 Ian Carr (editor of the Rough Guide to Jazz, biographer of Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis).

“A lot of love has gone into the making of this striking and mysterious music, which seems to be a tribute and thank you note to all who contributed to it. The music is warm - often beatific - and the musicianship is superlative. The spirit of Joe Zawinul inhabits some pieces. This is a very beautiful album.”

02/05/2005 Steve Levine (Producer)

“The new CD is really good, both sonically and the tunes are cool…your band are really tight and have great feel…I would love to hear you guys live.”

01/08/0005 Brian Glasser (biographer of Joe Zawinul), Jazzwise Magazine

[4 Stars, out of 4].

"Despite the well-established pedigree of the personnel, this album seems out of nowhere: a carefully crafted love letter to the American jazz that flowered so gorgeously in the ‘70s, written and read by English sensibilities of the here and now.

Think various incarnations of Weather Report, think Herbie; but also think South London and Perfect Houseplants, and think the Johns Surman and Marshall.

It’s some feat to pull this off, both in terms of musicianship and self-conviction, but there’s not a dead patch on the CD.

Credit Patrick Wood, the project’s composer-arranger: he has created the simultaneous loose-tight musical situations that allow his associates to stretch out and reach new heights while keeping them grounded.

The album is so dependent on teamwork that it’s invidious to single out any contributor, but this kind of music is critically dependent on pulse and Nic France’s drumming really floats the boat.

The nine tracks come in various shapes and sizes, and the whole thing’s a fresh, passionate delight from start to finish".

01/07/0005 Jez Nelson, Jazz On 3, BBC Radio 3.

In their occasional CD Round-Up feature, Jazz On 3 were able to play just four “choice nuggets” from amongst “a whole heap of good stuff” that had been released over the past month. This put the Works up in the company of three of the world’s greatest living jazz musicians:

“We have new music from Joe Lovano, a new 70’s flavoured U.K. fusion band called the Works, and also from two of the guys who undoubtedly influenced them - Joe Zawinul…and Wayne Shorter…

…Oh yeah! Don’t you just LOVE well played fusion – once its in your blood you’ll never get it out! First up it was the maestro himself Joe Zawinul, and then - did you hear the join? - a new U.K. band called ‘the Works’ and the title track from their album ‘Beware of the Dog’: REALLY like that…It’ll be really interesting to see how they develop their sound on future albums.”