Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Roger Beaujolais Quartet: Mind The Gap

Roger Beaujolais Quartet: Mind The Gap

By Dan Bilawsky
July 20, 2013
View read count

The quintet has usually been the format of choice for British vibraphone ace Roger Beaujolais, but he changes it up on Mind The Gap; this is the eighteenth album from the veteran mallet man, but the first to really focus on a foursome.

Beaujolais, a self taught vibraphonist who started a bit late—in his mid-twenties—has more than made up for lost time over the years. In the '80s he made a splash with The Chevalier Brothers, an outfit which brought its brand of retro jump jive music to stages throughout the world, and he found some success in the realm of acid jazz with Vibraphonic in the '90s. Studio work with a diverse list of artists, like dissimilar vocalists Robert Plant, Morrissey, and

Omara Portuondo

vocals
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Omara Portuondo, a string of quintet dates under his own name, and teaching work at London's Trinity College of Music round out his r��sum�� thus far, but he's not done adding to it.

Mind The Gap finds Beaujolais in fine form, doling out jazz classics ("A Child Is Born"), pleasing originals ("Joe Beam") and Brazilian tunes. Beaujolais doesn't technically share the front line with anybody since he removed saxophone from the equation, but the vibraphonist isn't really alone out front; pianist

Robin Michael Aspland

piano
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Robin Michael Aspland does his share of the heavy lifting, working in tandem with Beaujolais, taking plenty of solos, and providing solid support when the vibraphonist steps forward.

All of the music here is fairly straight ahead, yet its virtues are many and varied. Beaujolais manages to conjure different moods with each and every one of these finely crafted performances.

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery's "Full House" is jaunty as can be,

Milton Nascimento

guitar and vocals
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Milton Nascimento's "Vera Cruz," which opens with rubato ruminations and eventually settles into a solid groove, is upbeat and sunny, and the title track is a driving romp worth savoring. Beauty becomes Beaujolais, as demonstrated on his tender-and-loyal take on

Thad Jones

trumpet
1923 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Thad Jones oft-performed "A Child Is Born," and elegance underscores a reading of "Estate." Beaujolais, Aspland, solid-as-a-rock bassist

Simon Thorpe

bass

" data-original-title="" title=""> Simon Thorpe, and light-touch drummer

Winston Clifford

drums
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Winston Clifford demonstrate class, skill and a strong sense of style through it all.

Beaujolais couldn't completely avoid the pull of the quintet, so percussionist Oli Savill makes a few appearances as the fifth man, but the majority of the tracks stick to the well-suited four man-plan. Perhaps this will be the first of many quartet dates for Roger Beaujolais, but even if it's not, it still serves as a fine addition to his discography.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Full House; Vera Cruz; West Coast Blues; Mind The Gap; Sea Journey; A Child Is Born; Joe Beam; Bad Connection; Estate.

Personnel

Roger Beaujolais

vibraphone

Roger Beaujolais: vibraphone; Robin Aspland: piano; Simon Thorpe: double bass; Winston Clifford: drums; Oli Savill: percussion (2, 7, 8).

Album information

Title: Mind The Gap | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Stay Tuned Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Lenny White Live from '97
< Previous

Taking stock, a year half over
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.