Another star in the British jazz world
has joined CAM JAZZ. After his contributions to John Taylor’s and Kenny
Wheeler’s recordings, “Circularity” is Julian Argüelles’s debut album
with this label. Eight original pieces, all bearing the leader’s
signature and performed with a tried and true quartet: Argüelles on
tenor and soprano sax, Dave Holland on double bass, Martin France on
drums and, obviously, John Taylor on piano.
Argüelles’ artistic path is that of a
musician who has kept moving forward, looking for new expressive forms
as well as sonic and textural shades for his tunes. On stage for nearly
thirty years (even though he is still under 50), the British saxophonist
released his first record as a leader in 1991. Since then, ongoing
growth and development have made him a musician who is never the same
but, nevertheless, clearly recognizable. In the opening track,
“Triality”, his sax relies on the introduction by the rhythm section,
then quickly launching into a long solo that shows Argüelles’ great
improvisational verve. Enchanting “Circularity”, driven by a groove
revealing a strong empathy within the quartet. On the other hand, with
the exception of Holland (Mick Hutton used to be on bass), it is the
same combo that recorded “Phaedrus” in 1991 and the title of both the
above piece and the entire album most likely also refer to the closing
of an artistic and human circle. Then there is “A Simple Question”,
with its hypnotic introduction by John Taylor; exotic “Unopened Letter”
and gentle “Wilderness Lane”, up to the soft closing track, “A Lifelong
Moment”. This is an excellent album to best celebrate a new artist
joining CAM JAZZ’s team.
