COMPOSERS: Kyle Eastwood
LABELS: Jazz Village
ALBUM TITLE: Kyle Eastwood: The view From Here
WORKS: The View From Here
PERFORMER: Kyle Eastwood (bass), Graeme Blevins (sax), Andrew McCormak (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: 570020
The sixth disc (as a leader) by Paris-based jazz bassist Kyle Eastwood features his long-established British touring band. And it’s on fine form. (His pianist, Andrew McCormack is also making serious waves with his current solo disc). Eastwood’s recent albums have increasingly moved away from the dance-orientated jazz of his earlier days, giving way to a more sophisticated jazz soundscape that brings together a broad range of styles, from North African influences (on ‘Une nuit au Sénégal’), to the contemporary flavoured ‘Summer Gone’ with its rippling bass.
Eastwood’s experience of working on the music for his father Clint’s films is present, as many tracks have an emotive soundtrack quality. (‘The Way Home’ has an opening tune that evokes a ’70s cop thriller). Bass-wise, Eastwood proves he is ever a master of both electric and upright styles and for fans of his funkier side, the disc plays out with a finely understated groove.
Neil McKim