Artist: Impossible Gentlemen (The)

Date of Release: 02/09/2013

Catalogue no: SRCD43-2

Label: Basho

Price: £7.99

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Track Listing

Appearances by

Gwilym Simcock, Mike Walker

Following their triumph in the Best Ensemble category at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Anglo-American supergroup The Impossible Gentlemen will release their second album ‘Internationally Recognised Aliens’ on Basho Records on 2nd September 2013. Produced by multiple Grammy winner Steve Rodby, the album further refines their mastery of melody and groove, whilst offering plenty of thrilling surprises.
The group features internationally acclaimed British piano sensation Gwilym Simcock, Salford guitarist and UK treasure Mike Walker and American bass and drums superstars Steve Rodby, Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. The result is nothing less than remarkable with five unique talents, all superb players in their own right, coming together to create something new and powerful.

The Impossible Gentlemen will play Brecon Jazz Festival in August and then tour the UK in October in support of the album, culminating in four nights at London’s Pizza Express Jazz Club.

Listen to a Podcast of Mike and Gwilym talking about the new album

Reviews

23/12/2013 BBC Radio 3 Jazz on 3

In Top ten CDs of 2013

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22/12/2013 The Jazz Breakfast

No 2 in the Festive top ten

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01/12/2013 MOJO

In the year's top ten

29/10/2013 Chris Ingham, MOJO 4 stars****

The second album by the scintillating supergroup which blends the egghead groove guitar of Mike Walker with Gwilym Simcock’s refined and resourceful piano plus a dynamic rhythm team of Steve Swallow (bass) and Adam Nussbaum (drums). The symbiosis produces an ensemble of ever-evolving creativity, which also manages to stop to smell the roses and have a bit of a laugh.

01/10/2013 Roger Thomas, BBC Music Magazine 5 stars *****

"Impossibly Good"

23/09/2013 Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast

a four-way marriage made in heaven...simply brilliant

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19/09/2013 Peter Bevan, Northern Echo

punchier and often more exciting than their debut

13/09/2013 Irish Times 4 stars ****

this league of extraordinary gentlemen is a more balanced act, a conversation of equals that has deepened over time despite the varying ages of its members

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12/09/2013 Tom Henry, Toledo Blade

one of the best combos on the planet.
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10/09/2013 John Kelman, Allaboutjazz

Internationally Recognisable Aliens is a record that, like its predecessor, is destined for year-end "best of" lists.

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01/09/2013 Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann 4 stars****

Their second album builds upon the success of its acclaimed predecessor. Another triumph for The Impossible Gentlemen.
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01/09/2013 Mark Gilbert, Jazz Journal 5 stars *****

This set from the transatlantic heroes is alive all the way, every detail apparent, the music breathing as if it had all the time in the world. It’s the first time the group has worked with producer and sometime Pat Metheny Group bassist Steve Rodby and one wonders if he had a seismic effect on mood and actual arrangement. If not, what did? A new high for the combo. I doubt they’ve been heard to better effect. This is one that shouldn’t be missed.

31/08/2013 Mike Hobart Financial Times

Mike Walker's acerbic picks, strums and funky rhythm guitar provide an unexpected opening...then sensitive, fluent and appealing....

31/08/2013 John Bungey, The Times

Album number two is a sophistated melodic set from the brisk guitar funk of opener Heute Loiter to the ruminative piano of Ever After.

30/08/2013 John Fordham, The Guardian 4 Stars ****

this is a fine second album from the Gents, and some of Walker's and Simcock's improvisations are awesome.
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30/08/2013 Jack Massarik, Evening Standard 4 stars****

Take two British stars, guitarist Mike Walker and pianist Gwilym Simcock, add two US rhythm sages, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Adam Nussbaum, and you have a true supergroup. The sequel to their dazzling debut album is no let-down, with similarly impressive writing allied to a generally mellower vibe.

18/08/2013 Stephen Graham, Marlbank 4 stars ****

It's quite brilliant.
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12/08/2013 Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise 4 stars ****

The Impossible gentlemen have done, the well, impossible ...this is an altogether more bravura outing than their debut album ....This is one of those albums that makes you say "yeah, I've gotta see this band in person".