Martin Pickett Group - Lyric Pieces (2011)

'Lyric Pieces' from pianist and composer Martin Pickett features a 5-piece band, including two fine brass players - Steve Waterman and Mark Bassey.

Augmenting the well-established trio of leader Martin Pickett on piano, Paul Jefferies on bass and Ben Twyford on drums (aka 3bpm) are Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Mark Bassey on trombone. Together they navigate their way through Martin's challenging yet lyrical compositions to produce music with a directly emotional impact.

“This is Martin Pickett's usual 3BPM trio with the addition of Waterman and Bassey on horns. 3BPM has included contemporary and pop tunes in its repertoire but here it's all Pickett's own compositions which all have a song-like form; hence the titular nod to Elgar. As songs, each piece has an emotional hook, from the upbeat and swinging Defeat The Machine to the more introspective Soft Focus to the stop-start rhythms of Don't Ask! The two guest horns add some real spice to the proceedings with improvisation that is constantly accessible but unpredictable while Pickett's piano is the glue that holds it all together. In some indefinable manner, this is quintessentially British jazz.” - Dave Foxall, Jazz Journal