James Le Fevre Quintet
Point A
(Independent)
Rating: ***1/2
The debut album of originals from this Canberra combo cites a list of fairly predictable influences – jazz, rock, blues etc. – except for one: Bulgarian wedding music. Indeed Eastern Blues opens with a South Eastern European style cadenza from leader James Le Fevre’s tenor sax before the ensemble appears with a subdued Balkanised bluesy theme.
Some tracks are more straight ahead: Follow Your Nose has Le Fevre on a slightly off-mike baritone sax for a piece drawing on rock rhythms, and features a fiery solo from guest trumpeter Miroslav Bukovsky.
Winds from the East is a soothing ballad commencing with Rob Lee’s sedate trombone lead. The title track undergoes tempo changes, utilising trombone, Ben Foster’s beat-riding keys and the leader’s high velocity tenor, all heavily underscored by Evan Dorrian’s insistent drumming and Kane Watters’s riffing electric bass.
A convincing debut recording showcasing some of Canberra’s foremost jazz players and their multi-hued compositions.
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This review first appeared in The Weekend Australian and is republished with permission.
