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Phil Robson: The Cut Off Point

By Roger Farbey
May 16, 2015
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With four albums already to his name and another four by the band

Partisans

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Partisans which he co-leads with saxophonist

Julian Siegel

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Siegel, British guitar phenomenon

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Robson hardly needs any introduction, save that his new musical departure is realised by an organ trio offering a sm?rg?sbord of exciting and imaginative compositions.

"Thief" hits the ground running, with

Phil Robson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Robson's lithe fast guitar running alongside nimble Hammond lines to carve out the melody and a subsequent brief but enticing organ solo ensues. The pulsating groove of "Second Thoughts" is facilitated by Ross Stanley's Hammond organ and Gene Calderazzo drums, providing a solid backing to Robson's articulate guitar phrasing.

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman's "Dimi And The Blue Men" has a spacey feel with echoey, oscillating stereo effects to the fore and even some touches of wah wah guitar before a consolidating theme resolves this captivating piece.

"Vintage Vista" is most redolent of the high energy staccato outbursts first heard on the electrifying

Tony Williams

drums
1945 - 1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Williams' Lifetime albums with

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin and

Larry Young

organ, Hammond B3
1940 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Young and is all the more engaging for that. By contrast "Astral" is a searching ballad where guitar and Hammond weave their respective bluesy solos.

The title track, a more exploratory Lifetime-esque number, sees Robson on fuzz-laden guitar, taking an altogether more daring approach than previous tracks, culminating in a satisfyingly robust ending. "Berlin" is less frenetic and more measured, taken at a mid-to-fast pace with Calderazzo providing a keen rhythmic accompaniment. "Ming The Merciless" the final number, (all are penned by Robson with the exception of the Liebman track) has the guitarist stretching out with a funkier approach and is replete with blues licks and a sudden ending.

Whilst comparisons with Lifetime or

John McLaughlin

guitar
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">John McLaughlin's 1994 album, After the Rain with

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco and

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones may seem inevitable, the vast majority of the music here owes little to these groups. Robson is his own man and this trio has successfully achieved what it set out to do, making for a very satisfying album indeed.

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Track Listing

Thief; Second Thoughts; Dimi And The Blue Men; Vintage Vista; Astral; The Cut Off Point; Berlin; Ming The Merciless.

Personnel

Phil Robson

guitar

Phil Robson: guitar; Ross Stanley: Hammond organ; Gene Calderazzo: drums.

Album information

Title: The Cut Off Point | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd

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