Prepare to get your toes tapping! Harry Waters, son of Roger, has been busy working away on his own material, and has enlisted some of Roger's band to help out, too. The first album release from the Harry Waters Band is now available to buy, and is a cracking alternative to the music that you might normally listen to.
Enlisting, amongst others, the likes of Ian Ritchie on tenor sax, Chester Kamen on acoustic guitar, and the excellent Yaron Stavi on double bass (Yaron forms part of Phil Manzanera's current band for the Firebird V11 project), the album's style and infectious tunes might take you by surprise!
If this is your first tentative step into the world of jazz, rest assured. It is a jaunty, chilled and enjoyable listen, which never goes anywhere near avant garde, free form experimental jazz which has frightened away more people from this sphere of music than anything else. With inspiration coming from diverse performers as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Randy Newman, there's a nice mix of approach heard in this eleven song collection.
Of course, jazz is a very wide definition in itself - as is "rock", when you think about it. Covering all sorts of styles and influences, a lot of people have shied away unnecessarily from jazz, and it can be seen as a daunting genre to approach. Remember though, Richard Wright had a deep love of jazz all his life, and this came out in subtle ways through his, and Pink Floyd's, music.
Surrounded by such adept musicians, Harry acquits himself with style. Writing all but one of the songs, he also displays a wonderfully subtle and skilled touch on the piano. Particular highlights for me on the album include Blues in G, Petersons Bounce, Spring Stepping, Blues in F, and the final track, Jarretts Dream.
A very enjoyable album, it can be ordered now through Harry's own website - www.HarryWaters.co.uk.
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