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-isq: -Isq: Too
By-isq are a quartet who draw inspiration from jazz, taking it as their starting point but allowing other influences to percolate into the brew. It comes as little surprise then that the band members all have CVs that, while rooted in jazz, spread far and wide across the genres. So, for example, bassist

Richard Sadler
bass, acoustic
Neil Cowley
pianob.1972

John Crawford
piano
Jason Yarde
saxophone, altoThe first thing that strikes you about the album, though, is the balance struck between the wounded melancholy of

Irene Serra
vocals
Chris Nickolls
drumsThat said, "Falling Stars" is far from the only gem on this album of consistently high quality compositions and performances. "Zion," for instance, has another earworm of a chorus the poetic lyric thankfully describing how a loved one is the spiritual centre of the singer's world, rather than providing a sombre geo-political analysis of the Middle Eastern situation. There's something about the use of acoustic instruments that lends a painterly air to the pieces, whether that be explicitly as on "Still Life"'s reflection on a troubled relationship, or in the way the band provide colour in their surge into a piano-led outpouring of emotion on "As I Lay You Down." The heartfelt lyrical maturity shown on the album is another plus point, showing the strength to acknowledge bad times but crucially to look beyond them and find hope for the future. Take "Tears of a Clown"'s exhortation to "Break all the pieces of your world to find new ground" and the hopeful ..."so the darkest of places has room for a light...." While not quite comparable to Smokey Robinson's lyric of the same name it remains a great song and comes from a genuine place unlike so much of the 'will this do?' lyrical drivel that passes for art in these times.
-isq are rightly ambitious to reach beyond a pure jazz audience and were "Too" to reach the ears of, say, a Gilles Peterson it remains a distinct possibility. Their openness to other forms of music beyond jazz, while staying true to their jazz roots, freshens the mix letting some light in to the dusty halls of what passes for vocal jazz in the 21st Century. With albums such as this and that from Emily Saunders there is every chance that the prospects for good vocal jazz are much improveda turnaround that is surely long overdue. Highly recommended. ">
Track Listing
Reflections; Falling Stars; Secret Garden; Still Life; As I Lay You Down; Tears of a Clown; Zion; Light and Shade.
Personnel
ISQ
band / ensemble / orchestraIrene Serra: vocals; Richard Sadler: double bass; Chris Nickolls: drums; John Crawford: piano.
Album information
Title: -Isq: Too | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Cheesepeas Records
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