Ian Bateman – John Hallam – Tom Kincaid Trio – Me And My Shadow

Top ranking British Jazz musicians combine to produce a varied and ultimately classy CD. This release marks the 5th CD for Lake that John Hallam is on and the 6th for Ian Bateman. John Hallam combines soaring clarinet, booting tenor sax and a Gerry Mulligan-ish baritone sax. John won acclaim for his contribution to a recent album by the award winning reed player, Alan Barnes, where he more than delivered in such auspicious company. He remains one of the UK Jazz world’s hidden secrets, although no stranger to award nominations himself. Trombonist Ian Bateman (The Bateman Brothers Jazz Band, The Bone Supremacy, The Back To Basie Orch, Acker Bilk’s Paramount Jazz Band) regularly appears in the top 5 in polls of British Jazz trombonists. He is a wonderful player able to run the whole gamut of trombone playing from soft lyrical to mighty shouting. Both men are members of the Lake Records All Star Jazz Band and also took part in the ‘1930s Jazz Recording Project’ when the seeds were sown of doing an album together. John regularly works with the young, hugely talented Tom Kincaid Trio so the choice of accompanists fell into place easily. Nothing here is predictable with a hint of JJ Johnson and Stan Getz the nearest to a similar line-up. From Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Raincheck’ to Alan Barnes’ quirky arrangement of ‘Me & My Shadow’ this CD simply oozes class.