Stan Sulzmann, Nikki Iles - Lush Life (2018)

Tracklist

01. You Don't Know What Love Is
02. Who Can I Turn To
03. Between Moons
04. Pip
05. Iris
06. The Night We Called It A Day
07. Odonata
08. Moontide
09. Lush Life

When three of the best jazz musicians of their generation get into the studio to record an album of some of their favourite tunes, you know the outcome is going to be something special.

It is over 20 years since Stan Sulzmann and Nikki Iles recorded their first album together. Since then, these two outstanding musicians have become stalwarts of the British jazz scene. They have composed original, critically acclaimed music for various ensembles both live and on record, and played with some of the biggest names in the jazz world: John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Vince Mendoza and Anthony Braxton.

For this album, they are collaborating with double bass legend Dave Holland, who needs no introduction. Plucked from the house band at Ronnie’s to join Miles Davis’ band at the tender age of 22, he has an international career leading his own all-star bands and working with a who’s who of artists including Thelonius Monk, Stan Getz and Joe Henderson.

The nine tracks on ‘Lush Life’ are a beautiful collection of unusual “standards” and four originals. Stan and Niki both contributed two each, all with short liner notes to explain why they were included on the album. From the opening track ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ (included because of Stan’s love of Billie Holiday’s rendition), to ‘Between Moons’ by John Taylor (an influential friend to all the artists on the record), to the final title track, ‘Lush Life’, you can hear how much these three stellar musicians enjoy making music.

Beautifully recorded in one of London’s top studios, and mixed and mastered by Curtis Schwartz, this album is a triumph, not only musically but also sonically.

“This intimate recording is a rare chance to hear three of the most respected jazz musicians playing tunes they love. Jellymould is very proud to be releasing this beautiful record.” – Dom Sales, Jellymould Jazz

Double Bass – Dave Holland
Piano – Nikki Iles
Tenor Saxophone – Stan Sulzmann

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac CD-Rip]