22nd February 2019: John Turville’s ‘Head First’ ft. Julian Argüelles, Dave Whitford, Robbie Robson and James Maddren released today + tour picked in Guardian Guide & BBC Radio London feature

Today is the release for Head First from John Turville and his
tour has been previewed in the Guardian Guide today as well as a great feature on BBC Radio London, ordering info below:

CD • DL • 180 gram heavyweight 12″ LP with DL code: here

(March 15, 2019 – vinyl ship date)

Pianist and educator John Turville has established himself as a mainstay of the UK and European contemporary jazz scenes in his varied roles as sideman, co-leader and trio/quartet leader. So it’s testament to his considerable reputation that this debut quintet release, Head First, should include the estimable names of saxophonist Julian Argüelles, double bassist Dave Whitford, drummer James Maddren; and, perhaps a new name to some, versatile trumpeter Robbie Robson. Inspired greatly by the music of mentor John Taylor, as well as Kenny Wheeler, Turville was one of many artists who came together for the Jazz Piano Summit concert of 2015 dedicated to Taylor’s immeasurable musical legacy. There, Turville presented his own homage, ‘A Perfect Foil’, igniting a desire to realize originals and interpretations for an expanded line-up. The resulting collaboration, featuring Julian Argüelles, is a radiant celebration of British jazz creativity which also confirms the pianist’s mastery of composition and performance.

Being in the studio – not least the crystalline ambience of Artesuono, in Italy – is an environment in which Turville feels at home: “As a leader, there comes increased artistic freedom, so I love thinking on my feet and experimenting – and over two days of recording, my band was in total alignment with the vibe and energy I was looking for.” His sound world is informed by the likes of Fred Hersch (the album title a playful though gracious twist on his name) and Bill Evans, yet is frequently imbued with the harmonic colouring of classical composers such as John Ireland, Federico Mompou and the French Romantics.

Bustling ‘Fall Out’, with strong horn motifs and driving, bass-propelled rhythms, was originally penned by Turville for quartet, then big band (note the ‘Kenny’ warmth in Robson’s soloing); and turbulent, piano-figured ‘Seahorses’ recalls a stormy sea trip off Seahouses, on the wild Northumberland coast, reflected in billowing, improvisatory freedom. ‘Almagro Nights’, for piano trio, is full of Buenos Aires hustle, spotlighting Turville’s brightness at the keyboard, while impressionistic soprano-and-piano ‘Interval Music’ finds Argüelles waltzing oh so elegantly into the sublime, descending phrases of ‘A Perfect Foil’.

Brisk samba, ‘Head First’, characterised by bass and piano features, leads to ‘Ennerdale’, whose yearning horns and lush pianism evoke the serenity of The Lake District (listen out for the quotation of Taylor’s ‘Ambleside’); and a gossamer trumpet-and-piano arrangement of Diego Schissi’s ‘Cancion 4’ echoes a certain Wheeler melancholy. Turville’s championing of favorite artists continues with a blithe piano trio take on Brazilian jazz guitarist Toninho Horta’s ‘Francisca’, while the tenor fluidity of Julian Argüelles’ ‘A Month in Tunisia’ is buoyed by Whitford’s and Maddren’s West African-pulsed precision. Lisztian mystery threads through ‘Cyclic Chorale’s tentative trio openness before the set closes with a luxuriously swinging interpretation of Michel Petrucciani’s ‘Beautiful But Why’.

John Turville confirms, “It’s just a dream to work with this quintet.” Throughout Head First, it’s plainly obvious why.

TOUR DATES

25 February – Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London
26 February – Herts Jazz, The Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans
27 February – Workshop, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
27 February – Eastside Jazz Club, Birmingham
28 February – Cambridge Modern Jazz Club (Hidden Rooms)
1 March – The Fleece, Colchester
2 March – Workshop, Royal Academy of Music, London
4 March – Wells Cathedral, Cedars Hall
5 March – St Ives Jazz Club (Great Western Hotel)
6 March – Workshop and Concert, Purcell School, Bushey
7 March – Nottingham Jazzsteps, Bonington Theatre, Arnold
8 March – Workshop, Leeds College of Music
9 March – The Verdict, Brighton
8 March – Sheffield Jazz, Crookes Social Club