SLAMCD316 Plaza Jazz Trio – Soaring

The Plaza Jazz Trio took their name from Havana’s Plaza Jazz Festival, and features trumpeter Steve Waterman, saxophonist George Haslam and percussionist Robin Jones.

They perform a programme of mostly standards in free Latin form, including “El Manicero (The Peanut Vendor)”, “Tale of an African Lobster” by Shorty Rodgers; George Haslam‘s “Soft Awakening”, “Tea for Two”, “Recado Bossa Nova”, “Begin the Beguine”, “Bye Bye Blackbird” and the title track, “Soaring”. Two horns over the rhythmic base of Robin Jones‘ congas, covering mambo, bossa nova, rumba and improvisation.

Steve Waterman: trumpet, flugelhorn, electronic valve instrument
George Haslam: baritone saxophone, tarogato
Robin Jones: congas and shakere

“This is one of those recordings which is very good indeed but which is so low-key in the way it presents itself that it may not get the attention it deserves. Please join me in preventing this. What we have here is a set of Latin (and Latinised) standards plus a couple of originals played with enormous (and perhaps vaguely Beresfordian/Coxhillian) panache by a trio which, in instrumental terms, is stripped to some fairly unconventional bones.” – Roger Thomas, Jazz Review

“The choice of material makes for a programme that retains the interest of the listener, with creative arrangements making the best of the limited instrumentation available. Waterman plays beautifully on Shorty Rogers’ ‘The Tale Of An African Lobster’, and the relationship between flugel and baritone on Haslam’s ‘Soft Awakening’ is touching in its poignancy. Two old chestnuts get a very unusual treatment with ‘Begin the Beguine’ making use of Waterman’s electronic valve instrument and Haslam’s heart warming saxophone against Jones’ simple yet effective rhythmic accompaniment…another intriguing release from Slam Productions.” – Nick Lea, Jazz Views

“The scaled-down arrangements required for two horns (baritone sax and trumpet) and congas bring a breath of fresh air to tunes like Tea for Two and Recado Bossa Nova. Robin Jones congas take up a lot of room in the mix, which is just what should be. Haslam’s round, warm tone fits these Latinized versions like a glove…sunny chamber Latin jazz with a light free jazz touch.” – François Couture, All Music Guide

“Haslam and Waterman produce some intriguing interwoven lines with the attractive blend of baritone sax and trumpet and rhythmic counterpoint from Jones on congas. Haslam is an accomplished improviser on baritone and his work has a wide variety of different approaches to jazz…eccentric playing by the two front line instrumentalists but fascinating.” – Derek Ansell, Jazz Journal

Recorded 21st June, 2002 at Throwley Forstal.
Tracks 3, 6, 8 recorded at Henley, 5th October 2001.

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