CHARLIE WOOD
New Souvenirs
Perdido Records
At the launch of Mr Wood’s previous album in London, I found myself talking to him about his days on the road as keyboardist as some time arranger for blues giant Albert King – a man I saw playing a Flying Vee guitar whilst smoking a Sherlock Holmes curved pipe ! – because King’s favourite ballad was the sublime ‘The Very Thought of You’. He even put it on one of his albums. Later in the show, Wood played that very song, with the lovely Jacqui Dankworth singing !
My motto of ‘Get up, dress up, show up’ well-rewarded ……
Dankworth co-produces here and Charlie continues to explore his love and knowledge of jazz, blues, r&b and soul with as much skill and moreover warmth as ever he did. Of course, his piano playing sparkles and entertains and his rich voice does justice to the material. Whilst the contributing musicians brew up the sonic mixture with spirit. You can take the man out of Memphis, but….and why would you ever want to ? This collection swings, above all else and what’s more they are own compositions, Wood is not relying on songs people already have in their affections.
Opener ‘No Repose’ has a tely feel, not a million miles from Billy Joel ; the swirling clavinet of ‘Music Is My Monkey’ brings in a snappy and moody cut as fine as any Joe Tex number with a Mose Allison tinge. When the Hammond chugs in , it is just so right ! Tight horns punctuate the whole and of course the words are Charlie’s own. Splendid stuff indeed !
The confident and airy ‘Promise land’ changes the pace again ; the bluesy ‘Angel of Despair’ is Sargeant territory ( I might well ask Wood if I can perform it ) and its lovely keyboard playing is pure Charlie..less showy than say Ray Charles but in execution closer to soulful guitar man Grant Green.
The jaunty ‘Detache’ is blackhearted lyrically and the sharp horn arrangement makes the toes tap – there is maybe more Randy Newman in Wood’s psyche than we would own up to ? RN fans should snap this up, for sure.
The beauty of ‘Until the Fall’ is breathtaking. My favourite Sinatra album is ‘ Watertown’ as Frank sound vulnerable and not cock of the walk. This song has echoes of that FS excursion and the lyric is poetry, quite wonderful.
The playful ‘Tube’ is gritty jazz brilliantly executed ; ‘Ghost Town’ cries out for a film to sit in, warm thoughts delivered in Tony Bennett style..he would surely love this composition ?
‘Winter Song’ is the perfect accompaniment to a late Autumn afternoon.
Versatile, thoughtful, sometimes dry as dust….and this is going to sound good in five, ten, twenty years’ time. Charlie, maybe this is your ‘Tapestry’ ?
Pete Sargeant
