The Leeds-based ATA Records continues to bring us the very best in contemporary soul and jazz, this time with a debut album from a local group, The Lewis Express. Taking inspiration from the 60s, through the likes of Ramsey Lewis, the band’s self-titled LP has something of the oracular about it, while still sounding vintage in aesthetic and raw in its execution. The band consists of George Cooper, Piano (Abstract Orchestra) Neil Innes, Bass (The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill), Sam Hobbs, Drums (Dread Supreme, Tony Burkill, Matthew Bourne) and Pete Williams, Percussion (The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill) – together they make some sweet-ass, break-centric music that’ll undoubtedly appeal to both the hip-hop heads and the psych freaks. What a beautifully composed modern jazz album.
Recommended.
