Led Bib, the raucous, rockish, sax-blasting London quintet that set pundits muttering “punk-jazz” when they barged on to the scene in 2005, have almost quit in recent years – but this triumphant comeback is an all-new mix of powerful group-penned instrumentals, recorded last January in a fast collective studio jam in drummer Mark Holub’s adopted Vienna. Led Bib have always felt themselves to be way outside the solos-and-toetapping jazz world, and this set is more tightly packed with climactically choral rock-hymns than ever – with Frank Zappa’s playfully demonic composing style, the horn-led ferocity of John Zorn, and the low-end bass-and-drums tumult of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time still significant influences. But in their whimsical sax noodlings and pitch-bending north African inflections, which give way to thundering rock power (Ceasefire), their Zappa-like hooks descending to free-dirgey staggers (On the Roundabout), and a little amiable folk-dancing (Marching Orders), the unique Led Bib chemistry still bubbles. They’re touring in February and May, and it’s great to have them back.
