HILARY NOBLE and REBECCA CLINE

Enclave

Zoho ZM 200610

* * * * Recommended

Noble (ts, ss, as, fl, congas, misc perc); Cline (p); Fernando Huergo (elec b); Steve Langone (d)

Rec: 2004

While the Stuart Nicholson school of thought continues to look Eastwards for the future of our music, this writer is constantly drawn in the other direction – to New York, the melting pot for the fusion of music from the North and Southern Americas, never forgetting the important islands in between.

Though still for many an acquired taste, unquestionably the most exciting and stimulating sounds come under the heading of Latin-Jazz. And the Zoho label is fast becoming the most important of the newer specialists.

This is such a refreshing record. The album title is a play on words and combines the artistes’ individual creative take on the music, while still staying within the strict tradition of the all important clave. Hilary Noble is yet another George Garzone student, who has spent much time learning percussion in Cuba. He is a stomping, storming tenor-player, a robust risk-taker in the vein of a more modern David Murray or Pharoah Sanders on the up-tempo “Once Eleven”, a simple theme played eleven times with eleven different harmonisations. His soprano work is equally passionate, almost vocal in its cry at times and his percussion tracks on the closer are terrific.

Cline is also a revelation. She has studied in Puerto Rico, Cuba (with the legendary Chico Valdez) and in New York with the musically outspoken Joanne Brackeen. At times she sounds like a Latin Geri Allen. A very rhythmic pianist. Her tour de force performance on the only standard tune (“You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To”) is absolutely stunning.

Huergo’s electric bass is also excellent on this track, while Langone is equally impressive throughout. The compositions by Noble and Cline, both jointly and individually, make this a really special album. Provocative, passionate playing over consistently stimulating tracks.

Tony Hall

Jazzwise Magazine

(This review was not available online. It was reprinted here with permission from the author.)