Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rob Luft: Riser

7

Rob Luft: Riser

By

Sign in to view read count
Rob Luft: Riser
London-based guitarist Rob Luft, an alumnus of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, reveals on tracks like the opener "Night Songs" a lightness and deftness of touch. There's also a trace of highlife West African influence too. But notably, Luft veers away from the more well-worn modern jazz guitar style, steadfastly avoiding the usual plethora of blues and jazz clichés. Nonetheless Luft intersperses his imaginative compositions with fast arpeggio runs a-plenty. The title track, even more so, offers a conglomeration of styles and more influences, and a dulcet quality as characterised by, say, Kurt Rosenwinkel. There are some memorable riffs too as evidenced on "Beware"

Then there's a near-folky feel on the brief "Slow Potion" which segues into "Different Colours Of Silence," a Bill Frisell glissando-rich opening giving way to a fast tempo with more African-esque feel. The foot tapper "Shorty" exemplifies what a tight unit Luft has assembled. Joe Wright plays the melody and meatily underscores the proceeding with growling tenor, whilst the keen rhythm section holds it all together like glue. Luft takes a less prominent role here but it's no less effective.

The closer, "We Are All Slowly Leaving," drifts along for its eight minutes, first in a pastoral haze, then gradually consolidating by virtue of an inexorably developing hypnotic pulse. With Riser Luft has produced a debut album of remarkable originality, strong compositions and he's assisted by a formidable quartet of musicians whose natural sensibilities and talents only serve to enhance the project.

Track Listing

Night Songs; Riser; Beware; Slow Potion; Different Colours Of Silence; Dust Settles; Shorty; Blue, White And Dreaming; St. Brian; We Are All Slowly Leaving.

Personnel

Rob Luft
guitar

Rob Luft: guitar; Joe Wright: tenor saxophone; Joe Webb: Hammond organ, piano, harmonium; Tom McRedie: bass; Corrie Dick: drums.

Album information

Title: Riser | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Edition Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts

Jun 20 Thu

For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.