Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Emil Viklicky / Imogen Ryall: Songs

Emil Viklicky / Imogen Ryall: Songs

By Neil Duggan
November 11, 2024
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In addition to being highly regarded as a classical composer, Czech pianist and composer

Emil Viklicky

piano
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Emil Viklicky has been a significant presence on the international jazz scene for over 50 years. His jazz compositions, often influenced by Moravian folk songs, have seen him perform and record in the company of such significant artists as

Bobby Wellins

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Wellins,

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell,

Wynton Marsalis

trumpet
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Wynton Marsalis,

Billy Hart

drums
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Hart,

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock and fellow countryman

Miroslav Vitous

bass
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Miroslav Vitous. He composed all the music on Songs, with the exception of one piece.

English singer and lyricist

Imogen Ryall

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Imogen Ryall came to attention with her previous release Sings The Charles Mingus / Joni Mitchell Songbook (reviewed here). On Songs she finds new inspiration, neatly pairing her lyrics with Viklick?'s music to evoke an expressive mix of moods, stories and states of mind. They are joined by saxophonist

Julian Nicholas

saxophone, tenor
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Nicholas, who in addition to playing on Ryall's last album also introduced her to Viklick?, with whom he has a long recording history. They are joined by drummer

Eric Ford

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Ford, who also played on the previous album and bassist

Petr Dvorský

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Petr Dvorsk?.

Album opener "Not Yet!" is one of four tunes featured here that originally appeared on Viklick? and Nicholas' album Food of Love (Symbol, 1995). Starting with an almost show tune feel, the track quickly moves off in unexpected directions as Nicholas roams around the melody. "Portcawl Fair" is another track with similar lineage. Ryall's lyrics excellently portray the excitement of someone about to descend on a rollercoaster but leave ambiguity about what the real intention is. The track is enhanced by Dvorsk?'s solo and Viklick?'s economy.

Ryall's voice demands attention with her well-honed talent for delivering a narrative coming to the fore in "Gone With Water." Viklick? builds a lightly skipping folk style introduction, but the track darkens with undulating rhythms before Nicholas's tasteful sax solo leads to Dvorsk?'s well matched bass. The solos integrate into the narrative and there is no sensation of this being a lead singer with musical backing. The songs are a true collaboration with Ryall as part of a band and there is a depth and meaning to many of the lyrics that marks her out from many of her contemporaries.

Other standouts include "Dawn Devayne," named after a character in Ordo, a crime fiction short story by Donald Westgate and the gentle regret of "Moon Sleeping in a Cradle," in which Nicholas's sax flies alongside Ryall's beautiful intonation and Ford's thoughtful constraint. Whilst the narrative songs capture attention, there is also a good helping of songs covering the more familiar territory of lost love and fading relationships, particularly on "Aspen," with terrific soprano sax mixed with fine work from Ford.

Viklick? is masterly throughout and his accomplished themes and elegant melodies are the perfect vehicle for Ryall's creative lyrics and splendid vocal delivery. The piano and sax combinations, honed over 30 years of collaboration, are sensitive and inspired. Dvorsk? and Ford show a mix of rhythmic drive and appropriate restraint when needed, making this a contemporary quintet album that consistently hits the mark.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Not Yet!; I Know You Know; Conjurology; Dawn Devayne; Gone With Water; Touha; Moon Sleeping In The Cradle; Kyczera; A Short Way From Home; Portcawl Fair; Aspen.

Personnel

Emil Viklicky

piano

Imogen Ryall

vocals

Julian Nicholas

saxophone, tenor

Petr Dvorsk?

bass

Eric Ford

drums

Album information

Title: Songs | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Rubicon Classics

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