Howard Riley, Art Themen, Mario Castronari & Trevor Tomkins - Straight No Chaser (SLAMCD222) #jazz

Buy CD/download: https://slamproductions.bandcamp.com/... From the album "Classics (Live)" (SLAM Productions, SLAMCD222) The Howard Riley - Art Themen Quartet recorded on 19 May 1996 live at the Bull's Head, Chislehurst. Howard Riley: piano Art Themen: tenor and soprano saxophones Mario Castronari: double bass Trevor Tomkins: drums “Catching two genuine homegrown originals at the height of their powers in congenial company, this superb album provides yet more proof that British jazz’s fifty-somethings are in many ways a great deal less staid than their younger equivalents.” - Chris Parker, The Times “The resource and daring of pianist Howard Riley make these tunes harmonic environments rather than lazy fallbacks...Devoid of Berklee-School anonymity, Themen’s playing is rooted in the vocal phrasing and bluesy snorts of Hawkins and Rollins. The quartet - Mario Castronari and bass and Tevor Tomins on drums - is trenchant and relaxed. Bypassing decorum and mere tidiness, this has a garrulous vibe and burns hot and inventive...Fantastic.” - Ben Watson, Hi-Fi News & Record Review #howardriley #artthemen