SLAMCD242 Robert Jarvis – Carving Up Time

Trombonist Robert Jarvis made his debut recording as leader with ‘Carving up Time’, alongside Dutch saxophonist and fellow Hugh Hopper Band member Frank van der Kooij.

Recorded in Breda, Holland 1997 and in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, 1999.

Robert Jarvis: trombone
Frank van der Kooij: saxophones
Hank de Laat, Alan Niblock: double bass
Oscar Schulze, Victor de Boer: drums

“A compositional approach brimming with memorable interludes, concisely stated melodies, abrupt tempo changes and dashes of subtle EFX… sublime themes with faint injections of humour…Overall, Jarvis and co. utilise time to their advantage as they demonstrate their wares atop abstract overtones, sounds of nature and pleasing melodies. Essentially, Jarvis’ is up to something here, as the end results prove to be quite gratifying! Recommended.” – Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

“Jarvis gets a clean round tone that crisply punches out notes. His range is kept to the centre of the horn, with occasional multiphonics. His technique is largely conventional, though pleasantly alluring…Each horn participates in the rhythm, while the other solos, and each sprouts conservative improvisations that nonetheless appeal for their sense of unity, placement, and restraint. The bass comes to the forefront on ‘Global Village’, where it provides a slightly funky drone. Parts of the suite are tightly harmonised so that the horns sound almost, but not quite, corny. It is the tempos and bass that prevent them from being so.” – Steven Loewy, Cadence

“Trombonist Jarvis makes his debut recording as leader, and saxophonist Frank van der Kooij provides sturdy assistance. Both have played in The Hugh Hopper Band, and something of that group’s appealing jauntiness has been transferred to the first two pieces here.” – Julian Cowley, The Wire

“With a short call the trombone commands the listener’s attention and almost instantly introduces an infectious riff, soon underpinned by bass and drums. A sax becomes intertwined in the plot and before you know it, the whole thing starts swinging like a colony of apes…The trombone is sometimes considered an awkward instrument, but Jarvis shatters this preconception. Everything he plays is pure, with hair splitting timing, and above all with clarity…Listening to people who have fun making music, and who can pull it off, is always a pleasure.” – Koen Schouten, Muziek

All compositions written by Robert Jarvis.
Tracks 1 to 3 were recorded in a farmhouse outside Breda, Holland in November 1997
Tracks 4 to 8 were recorded in response to a commission from the Lisburn 1999 Festival of Arts and Culture, Northern Ireland.

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