 The musical rapport between electric guitarist Jez Franks and tenor saxophonist Tori Freestone is, as the programme suggested, the spark that ignites the bright, driving, sophisticated music of Compassionate Dictatorship, a quartet completed by bassist Jasper Hoiby and drummer Ben Reynolds.
Their material comes mainly from Franks (though Freestone's tribute to drummer Brian Blade, 'Bladey', was one of the evening's highlights), and occupies musical territory roughly similar to the terrain in which one of the guitarist's chief influences, Kurt Rosenwinkel, operates: a brisk, bustling yet subtle blend of prog rock and fleet jazz.
Franks is a fluent but punchy player, supple, long-lined solos streaming from his guitars (he occasionally resorts, to gain more 'resonance', to a baritone instrument), Freestone a pleasingly circumspect but powerful and cogent saxophonist, and the blend of their sounds (cf. the Lovano/Scofield 1990s partnership, or the present-day fruitful collaboration between Phil Robson and Julian Siegel) is the band's most attractive characteristic; with Hoiby and Reynolds providing vibrant and responsive rhythm-section work, this is a muscular but intelligent band playing immediately accessible, spirited yet carefully wrought music.
Chris Parker, Vortex Jazz Club Review, September 2008
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.jpg) “A gusty but thoughtful quartet album, Coup D’Etat is a notable addition to the ever-growing quality shown by forward thinking Brit Jazz groups. Already a member of Tom Arthurs’ Centripede and Asaf Sirkis’ Inner Noise, Jez Franks is an accomplished guitarist, capable of dazzling runs and meaty chord play that at times remind me of Kurt Rosenwinkel. Better still is how he channels this ability. Compassionate Dictatorship is primarily a collaboration with excellent saxophonist Tori Freestone and makes for a very impressive listen, both through the improvisation and loose, at times free-ish, group dynamics. ‘The Hang’ sounds just as it should do - a raw, highly open encounter between Franks’ moody electric guitar and Freestone’s robust tenor work (at times recalling the rawness of Archie Shepp at others the finesse of post-bop modernists). There is also great work around the edges from drummer Ben Reynolds and fine support from Danish bassist Jasper Hoiby. Later on, the group stretch and improvises loosely over delightfully open grooves such as ‘Brain Pickle’ while the moody ‘Seizmic’ shows Franks has brains to go with his brawn. Musically both tough and tender, Franks and Freestone are a great partnership.”
- Tom Barlow
Jazzwise Magazine Dec 07/Jan 08 |
This is a great quartet, showcasing the fruitful musical relationship between Guitarist Jez Franks and sax player Tori Freestone. They’ve really got everything; interesting compositions, two excellent front line soloists, a superb bass player in Jasper Holby, and a mutual understanding which makes for strong interaction the way jazz is supposed to allow, but is hard to bring off.
This was… an excellent two sets’ worth…well up to the standard of their appearance down at the Bear last year. The two front people are both thoughtful, largely cliché free players - Franks especially is as good as any of the current crop of stand out guitarists, to my ears (Robson, Outram, Walker…). I hope they go on as a band as long as Partisans, another favourite sax/guitar led quartet, who they somewhat resemble. T
Compassionate Dictatorship are a jazz act that have garnered a good and encouraging selection of positive and admiring reviews, boasting, as they do, a not entirely common line-up of drums, double bass, electric guitar and saxophone. The signs for this particular gig though were mixed - great reviews, an awesome range of superb samples of their original tunes online and strong word of mouth of this bands excellent improvisational talent were tempered by their usual drummer being temporarily replaced by a stand-in and bassist Jasper Hoiby breaking a string moments before their set was due to begin. The latter was fixed by local player and hero Dave Griffiths coming to the rescue with a spare string. The former? We'll come to that shortly...
The first piece started with a hungry energy from the band playing at full speed - an almost hard driving funkified jazz - that never let up throughout the set, save one gentle Tori Freestone composed tune that ached pastoral beauty. And what a set. Whilst I personally can find many bass players over-stepping the mark in terms of audio decency (and I say this as a bass player myself), Jasper Hoiby continually played with incredibly fluid rhythm and easily the best solo bass parts that I've heard in a very long time, that had everyone open-mouthed, jaws on the floor and wanting more. Tori Freestone meanwhile simply proved a revelation on tenor saxophone. Her tone was warm and rarely short of pitch perfect, and throughout was a strong melodic force. The other main soloist though was band leader and guitarist Jez Franks. An utterly engaging personality between pieces, his playing was hugely enjoyable. Clearly influenced by mainy greats (John McLaughlin sprang readily to mind upon first hearing), he was able to produce excellent rhythmic accompianment and classic solos in a wide variety of styles. What impressed most though was the incredible fusion that both Jez and Tori were able to conjure, being able to meld one instuments solo into another and also being able to combine the sounds of both into another distinctive sound. Clearly they'd been playing together like this for many years, and the interplay and relaxed body-language on-stage showed this and was reflected in the music produced.
Ben Reynolds, who sat behind the drumkit for the bands first album Coup d'Etat, was unavailable for this short tour, and so was replaced with James Maddren. And what a powerhouse he showed himself to be. Each piece was able to somehow showcase his nothing less than incredible playing of solid jazz styles, harder hitting funk grooves and his always endearing enthusiasm for every beat. To my ears I could hear influences of the great Tony Williams, especially the tunes where James would choose to build the rhythm up with sole use of the high hat circa perhaps Miles Davis' In A Silent Way. Regardless of distracting comparisons to other musicians, he was just amazing, bringing a distinctive persussive feel to every piece and demanding that people watched to see just how these grooves were being created. During the interval there was a notable buzz in the air, and I heard a very many positive words on this young and excellent showman of a musician, and I found myself agreeing to all of them.
The second set, after a twenty-minute break, started somewhat surprisingly with a Joni Mitchell favourite, with Tori taking the vocal line for a spin with her soprano saxophone. Always the trickiest of instruments, in the wrong hands its sound can become bland easy listening wallpaper music (a la Kenny G), in the right hands it sounds sensually beautfiful. Tori, having more than impressed earlier in the evening with her tenor playing, managed to surpass even the revered Wayne Shorter in making the soprano come alive, and certainly for at least two of my companions her playing of the soprano sax was a highlight and memorable pleasure of the evening.
The set continued with the rhythm and feel of the first, but with an incredible difference. The band of the first set had been brilliant - certainly in fact the finest band I've seen this year so far. But somehow they found it to come out in the second set and produce some amazing energy and surpass even the first set. I've certainly seen my share of excellent musicians this year, this group however were something else, playing together like no other I've seen for a long time. All superb players, together they certainly redefined the term 'more than the sum of the parts' and in fact they converted one of my group to heavily enjoying jazz, having previously been a bossa only fan.
Compassionate Dictatorship have some great original tunes, their first CD is highly recommended, and they have an eagerly anticipated second album due out this year, but as a live band they truly raise the bar of what live music can be and do. My only regret is that they won't be playing Bristol again soon enough.
24/02/09
Tori Freestone (ten/sop), Jez Franks (gtr), Jasper Holby (bs), Dave Smith (dms). |
.jpg) “An eclectic amalgam of improvisation, strong melodic themes and rhythmic twists is perhaps the best way to characterize 'Coup d'Etat', the debut album by ‘Compassionate Dictatorship’.
Comprised of four of London’s most prominent jazz musicians, Jez Franks (guitar), Tori Freestone (sax), Jasper Hoiby (bass) and Ben Raynolds (drums) manage to achieve a cohesive group sound that still allows each member’s original voice to be heard. ‘Compassionate Dictatorship’ is already being hailed as “one of the most exciting groups in recent years” by Avant Music Magazine and they are looking forward to a national tour in autumn of this year.
Rooted in the language of ‘modern jazz’ composers such as Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel et al, Jez Franks (and Tori Freestone on track 2) write with a fresh, vital and explorative approach. Whilst the pieces are often complex, they never feel contrived or overwritten. This is due to the effortless way in which they are performed and the composers’ keen melodic sense.
Each member of ‘Compassionate Dictatorship’ has their own unique improvisatory identity; far from the clash one might expect, the four voices complement each other well. This is especially true of Franks and Freestone who are both listening and reacting to each other; the resulting interweaving melodic lines are a high point of the album.
Jez Franks plays with intensity and passion, always developing and exploring new ideas. He has a clear articulate technique and tone, and a strong individual style. His comping is as inventive as his soloing, constantly undulating and moving.
Tori Freestone has a warm and open tone, her playing is melodic and innovative. Exploring the full range of the saxophone, Freestone effortlessly switches between fiery and haunting melodies.
The rhythm section of Hoiby and Reynolds is dynamic and exciting, they work well together and provide lift and cohesion to the group. Hoiby is Articulate and precise and Raynolds has a great dynamic range, they both groove even whilst playing in difficult feels and time signatures.
'Coup d'Etat' is a wonderful blend of virtuosity, beauty and passion. Twisting and shifting through melodic composition and inventive improvisation ‘Compassionate Dictatorship’ are exciting and exploratory yet retain a lyrical organic feel.”
- Ben McDonnell, Allaboutjazz.com
Novermber 2007
New forward thinking quartet co-led by versatile guitar talent Jez Franks and equally adept saxophonist Tori Freestone (both highly respected Leeds College of Music tutors)…this new band is another vital example of UK musicians embracing and incorporating both free jazz and rock elements into an edgy, risk taking approach to their music....original compositions of haunting beauty, using atmospheric textures over bubbling grooves...completing the band are bassist Jasper Høiby and drummer Ben Reynolds..."
- Jazzwise.com
October 2007
Jez Franks’ Compassionate Dictatorship: “Coup D’Etat” (FMR Records)
Το λονδρέζικο κουαρτέτο Compassionate Dictatorship είναι προϊόν της γνωριμίας ανάμεσα στον κιθαρίστα Jez Franks και τη σαξοφωνίστρια Tori Freestone που ξεκίνησε πριν από δεκαπέντε χρόνια. Παρά το όνομά τους, τον τίτλο του άλμπουμ και το λογότυπό τους (ένα υψωμένο μπράτσο κιθάρας και ένα σαξόφωνο εν είδει σφυροδρέπανου), δεν κάνουν ακραία πράγματα. Αντίθετα ο πολύ δουλεμένος και σοφιστικέ ήχος τους, κινείται μεταξύ χαρντ και ποστ-μποπ, μελωδικής μπαλάντας και φάνκι ρυθμών, θυμίζοντας συχνά τους Underground του Chris Potter. Τα περισσότερα κομμάτια ξεκινούν με χαλαρό ρυθμό και αργές ατμοσφαιρικές μελωδικές φράσεις. Σιγά σιγά η ένταση ανεβαίνει καθώς ο ρυθμός γίνεται γκρούβι, ενώ η κιθάρα του Franks άλλοτε με καθαρό ήχο, άλλοτε ηλεκτρισμένη και στο “Brain Pickle” με wah-wah, είτε σολάρει με ευρηματικότητα, είτε σπρώχνει το τενόρο της Freestone σε ελεύθερο φύσημα. Αν και το επίκεντρό του βρίσκεται στην αλληλεπίδραση τενόρου και κιθάρας, το “Coup D’Etat” οφείλει σε μεγάλο βαθμό την επιτυχία του στο απόλυτο δέσιμο ανάμεσα στο μπάσο του δανού Jasper Hoiby και τα τύμπανα του Ben Reynolds, δείχνοντας ότι το βρετανικό γκρουπ είναι περισσότερο collective παρά dictatorship.
Επαφή: www.compassionatedictatorship.co.uk
Jazz & Tzaz (www.jazzntzaz.gr).
Vangelis Aragiannis
March 2008
 One of the features of live jazz that sets it apart from other forms of music is that very often the musicians who perform it do not play in settled bands with fixed line-ups. They are more likely to play in loose, ever-changing collaborations that may last for no longer than a single gig. This is one reason why jazz relies so much on well-known standards for its repertoire and why it is renowned for its unpredictable, edgy and improvised quality. The results can often be exhilarating, but occasionally they can be plain baffling.
How instructive then to hear Compassionate Dictatorship, a settled four-piece that has recorded together, in the middle of a lengthy national tour and performing all its own material. Co-led by guitarist Jez Franks and tenor saxophonist Tori Freestone, Compassionate Dictatorship showed that jazz that is carefully composed and rehearsed can be as edgy and exhilarating as its more spontaneous cousin.
Perhaps the key to the bands success was the easy precision of its rhythm section - Jasper Høiby (double bass) and Ben Reynolds (drums) - whose near telepathic understanding propelled the band from bebop to languid blues, from haunting ballads to funk, with an intuitive mastery that never lost its footing. It was coupled with fine compositions and excellent soloing from Franks and Freestone.
- Milestones Jazz Club Review, Lowestoft Journal, November 2007 |
