28th September 2016: ★★★★ from The Jazz Mann and All About Jazz among latest reviews for Ryan Quigley’s ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’ + live show review from supporting tour and photos from Cork show

Enjoying a career which includes key roles with prominent UK symphony orchestras and big bands, plus recording/touring projects with Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Tom Jones and Randy Brecker (to name but a few), trumpeter and composer/arranger Ryan Quigley now unveils his ten-track album What Doesn’t Kill You – a quintet release with Paul Booth (tenor sax, flutes), Steve Hamilton (piano, Fender Rhodes), Michael Janisch (double bass) and Clarence Penn (drums).

Having worked for a number of years with Scottish band Brass Jaw, as well as releasing his own album Laphroaig-ian Slip, Quigley’s experience shines through in this new set of originals which suggests the passion of early ‘60s hard-bop and early ‘70s fusion, yet is up to date in forward-thinking appeal. Here is music born out of strong compositional melody which, in turn, sparks honest improvisational freedom; and while it features the leader’s assured, incisive trumpet, the sense of group coequality remains blissfully evident throughout this near-hour-long session.

This release – bookended by lyrical, echoic solo trumpet – finds Ryan Quigley delighting in the opportunity of working with good friends who share his innate desire for musical integrity, and whom he also counts amongst his musical heroes: “My hope is that this recording captures something of that ambition, and that listeners can feel its warmth, depth of feeling… and friendship.”

Here are the highlights from the latest round of reviews for the album:

“Strong melodic themes are a constant throughout and the playing from a stellar cast is terrific… Bright, inventive and vivacious.”
★★★★ The Jazz Mann (full review)

“Ryan Quigley proves with his latest recording that he can write swinging and engaging tunes as well as he plays them. A very satisfying set indeed demanding frequent replays.”
★★★★ All About Jazz (full review)

“It’s a great set of tunes, firmly grounded in the tradition as codified in the hard-swinging 1970’s, with everyone playing their hearts out and a real feeling of warmth and friendship between the participants.”
Jazz Views – Album of the week (full review)

“Full of sparkle and dynamics… Hugely enjoyable.”
London Jazz (full review)

“Strong melodies, a cohesive, collective sound, and the assured improvisational flights one would associate with Quigley and his band mates.”
Bebop Spoken Here (full review)

“An exhilarating evening of jazz… Steeped in the traditions of the idiom, but in no way restricted by those traditions.”
Seen & Heard International (live review)

Listen to a full length version of the title track below:

These excellent photos were taken by Richie Tyndall at Crane Lane Theatre, Cork. To see the full album, go: here