Dave Gelly 

The Cut-Off Point by Phil Robson review – impressive spacey jazz

Floating, impressionistic jazz from the guitarist’s trio with burst of funky grooves
  
  

Phil Robson: from the catchy to the dauntingly angular.
Phil Robson: from the catchy to the dauntingly angular. Photograph: MONIKA S.JAKUBOWSKA/MSJ Photography Photograph: MONIKA S.JAKUBOWSKA/MSJ Photography

There are two types of organ trio in jazz – the groovy-funky one and the spacey-impressionistic one. Guitarist Phil Robson’s new trio is mainly the latter, but with enlivening bursts of the former. The organist is Ross Stanley, a significant newcomer, and the ever-resourceful Gene Calderazzo is on drums. Robson’s compositions suit these tonal resources perfectly. The range of tempos and moods in eight numbers is more than impressive, from the floating, indefinite Astral to the catchy Thief and the dauntingly angular title piece. You soon get used to the absence of a bass, although a bit more punch in that department from the mighty B3 Hammond Organ might have helped.

 

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