Dennis Rollins, the skilful and popular British funk trombonist, launched this subtler and jazzier trio in 2011, with Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and Pedro Segundo on drums. Symbiosis takes up where 11th Gate stopped, as an infectiously accessible mix of dancefloor hooks, expressive solos and canny covers (Pink Floyd’s Money, Bette Midler’s The Rose) alongside more unexpected imports including Portuguese political songwriter Jose “Zeca” Afonso’s Senhora De Almortão. Rollins sounds as full-blooded yet light-stepping as ever, Stanley is both warmly supportive and capable of churning like a Wurlitzer on exhortatory themes, Segundo sustains an emphatic sense of propulsion without bashing, and the repertoire is reflective and playful. The title track is a slick, riffy groover with a blazing Stanley organ solo over a racing pedalled bassline, but Hark! is an impressionistic solo-Hammond tone poem; Senhora De Almortao a sombre, hymnal march. Boneyard has just the slinky New Orleans groove this group uncorks so effectively live, and The Rose is unexpectedly majestic, a tribute to Rollins’ lovely tone.
