Since keyboard player Terry Disley first caught the attention of Smooth Jazz Therapy he has delivered a succession of totally compelling, utterly original CD releases that have added considerably to the overall landscape of contemporary jazz. London born and San Francisco based he is now very much part of the bay area music scene yet perhaps is best known for his time with Acoustic Alchemy with whom, from time to time, he still guests. His latest release, ‘London Underground’ is everything one would expect from someone never afraid to push the jazz envelope and with eleven great tracks that are as good as they are varied the term ‘something for everyone’ has never been more apt.
The opening (title) track conjures up, for those who know it, the dynamic energy of the largest subway system in the world and as Disley takes the listener on a seven minute plus journey into the world of sophisticated contemporary jazz its Erik Jekobson on trumpet who really makes his mark. ‘Mind The Gap’ is another reference to London’s legendary transport system. This ultra jazzy genre bending number offers Disley the opportunity to demonstrate the sublime dexterity of his playing and he maintains this jazzy vein with the grooving mid tempo ‘Old And Funky’. Jazz morphs into blues for ‘Slinky’ with which he really captures the atmosphere of a smoky Runyonesque bar-room while with ‘Hiding Out’ Disley allows the mood to turn a little funky. Bolstered by a big (sounding) horn section, this Tower of Power like smoker really hits a stride and elsewhere he bestows a genuinely cinematic quality to the feisty ‘7-30’. Having run the gamut from funk to blues and on to jazz, Disley allows this most appealing of journeys to take in a slice of gospel too where, helped in no small part by Charles McNeal on sax, he makes ‘The Hymn’ a real standout of the entire collection.
The Bob James like ‘Toy Town’ delivers smooth jazz of the highest order yet when all is said and done no one plays chilled out melodic jazz better than Disley. ‘Out To Sea’ is a great example of this art and he does it again with ‘Suite 920’ which is blessed with harmonica from Patrick Bettison that proves to be as excellent as it is surprising. However, in the final analysis the best track by some distance is the wonderful ‘Miramar’. Named after the Half Moon Bay venue at which Disley often performs this tranquil almost sexy tune is an absolute delight.
Either live or on disc Disley never disappoints. Check out his schedule or buy ‘London Underground’ at www.terrydisley.com