SLAMCD291 Esmond Selwyn – Renegade

A recording of a quartet led guitarist Esmond Selwyn, recorded at Wrexham Jazz Club in November 2002. Esmond is joined by Paul Sawtell on keyboards, Bill Coleman on bass and Tony Richards on drums.

“Esmond, as leader, finds it representative of the spontaneity, immediacy and invention of the time and is pleased that the music still really swings – and he believes that there is a quite a difference between merely playing fast and actually swinging. He has also always been sparked and inspired by Paul Sawtell‘s qualities both as soloist and accompanist – but equally for his qualities as entertainer and his spontaneous musical wit! Note at the end of “China Boy” as the last chord is fading, how Paul slips in a humorous and very apt quote from “By The Sleepy Lagoon” – the signature tune to the BBC Radio Programme, “Desert Island Discs”…! – George Haslam

Esmond Selwyn: guitar
Paul Sawtell: keyboards
Bill Coleman: bass
Tony Richards: drums

“This is as lively a set of guitar jazz as I’ve heard in a long time and being played in a manner steeped in the DNA of such luminaries as Tal Farlow, Barney Kessell, Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, not forgetting Wes Montgomery, it is pleasingly retro without being slavishly deferential. This is not a homage but rather, a joyful celebration of bop guitar conventions before the seismic shift initiated by Jimmy Hendrix moved the artistic pendulum away from melodic invention towards the expressive extremities of distortion and feedback that is found in the work of most post-modern guitarists…The overall feel is buoyant and euphoric with headlong swing and melodic invention being the hallmark of both frontline instrumental voices.” – Euan Dixon, Jazz Views

“The group’s terrific. The interplay on Cantaloupe Island makes it one of the best versions of the Hancock tune I’ve heard and they positively clatter through Yardbird Suite. These are mostly extended performances as the durations will suggest. Nancy is usually done as a posy of cameo, but gets nearly 12 minutes of searching chordal and melodic inspection.” – Brian Morton, Jazz Journal

“Esmond and his quartet offer a fresh approach to these classics. Personally, I always love listening to jazz musicians who add their personal artistic interpretation to standards, making them seem like their own . Esmond does this well on Renegade. The sound quality is excellent. I would have never known that it was a live recording except for the applause in the background…Esmond’s guitar playing showcases his impeccable technique and virtuosity. Esmond is undoubtedly a master of his instrument. Renegade is an amazing, high-energy, traditional jazz recording.” – Dr Brandon Bernstein, Just Jazz Guitars

Throughout a nicely balanced set that includes accommodating standards (All the Things You Are, Just One of Those Thingsetc.) as well as jazz classics and bop staples (Blue Monk, All Blues, Yardbird Suite), Selwyn breezes confidently through a series of joyous, exuberant but consistently musicianly solos, competently shadowed by pianist Paul Sawtell, bassist Bill Coleman and drummer Tony Richards, to the audible satisfaction of an enthusiastic audience.” – Chris Parker, The Vortex

“Right from the gitgo on “Fine and Dandy” the quartet is off and swinging furious with smoking solos from all four members of this great quartet. Considering what little recognition Mr. Selwyn has garnered here, I an astonished by each of his solos on this long two disc set. He is just incredible. Both he and Mr. Sawtell on piano are gifted musicians and sound wonderful throughout, sometimes trading lines with immense craft and passion.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

Recorded at Wrexham Jazz Club November 2002.
Recording engineer Marc Joy, Ferndale Studio.

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