Some contemporary jazz musicians don’t bother themselves with a script, some do but tear it up as they go, some stay close to a favourite one – Peter Edwards, 2015 Parliamentary jazz award-winner, pianist for the late trumpeter Abram Wilson and nowadays accompanist/MD for vocalist Zara McFarlane, is in the third camp. From some jazz perspectives, therefore, the melodious Edwards’ playing might sound generic, but there are plenty of original takes on soul-jazz, Latin music and swing on this set, with the attentive Max Luthert on bass and the dynamic Moses Boyd on drums. There’s a Chick Corea-like bounce to the sunny Samba City, the peremptory chordwork of Ahmad Jamal rings against the bass vamp of the soulful Loved Ones, and Edwards plays a glowing Fender Rhodes on the quietly hip-hoppish title track, and some of the earthiest improv on the set in the closing stages of the Ray Charlesian soul-blues Down But Not Out. It’s expertly welcoming music for anyone who fears traditional song-rooted values aren’t being cherished enough in jazz.
