Up to 37% in savings when you subscribe to hi-fi+
hifi-logo-footer

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Jazz

You Know I Care

Tenderlonious
Tenderlonious: You Know I Care
  • Music
  • Sonics
  • A
  • A
  • A

Tenderlonious, aka Ed Cawthorne, is one of the leading lights of the London’s underground Jazz scene. He’s a DJ, producer, the leader of the excellent Ruby Rushton four-piece, which also counts Yussef Dayes as a member, and the founder of the 22a record label, which he co-founded with the highly talented Kamal Williams, and on which he releases his own albums as well as music from the likes of Jeen Bassa and Dennis Ayler. 

As you can tell from that opening paragraph, there are a lot of connections to be made when discussing Tenderlonious; he acts like the spider at the centre of a web of highly talented creative musicians. 

Perhaps more than any other individual in the London Jazz scene, Tenderlonious is adept at seamlessly switching between genres. Whether it’s beat-heavy tunes designed to tear up the dancefloor, wildly diverse internationally inspired pieces, or more reflective, traditional Jazz sounds. 

This new recording fits solidly into the latter category, and the beat-adverse among you will find nothing to complain about across You Know I Care’s 42-minute running time – unlike his 2021 EP Tek-88, which was a homage to the iconic Roland TR-808 drum machine. 

And while there are definite global moments, this album is as close as anything Tenderlonious has ever created to a collection of by-the-numbers Jazz standards. Don’t take that the wrong way though, this isn’t a throwaway moment or a backwards step; You Know I Care is a wonderfully rich, perfectly pitched homage to the American Jazz sounds that have inspired him throughout his career, from artists such as Wayne Shorter, Jackie McLean and others who originally performed the six pieces on the album. 

The self-taught Tenderlonious takes up alto-sax and flute duties, and is ably supported throughout by Hamish Balfour (piano), Pete Martin (bass) and Tim Carnegie (drums), and the opening ‘On The Nile’ sets the tone for who the quartet fits together for the entire album. Originally recorded by saxophonist Jackie McLean, the grand, large-scale piece delivers the perfect start. 

Track two, ‘Maimoun’, kicks off with a sensual bass line and the skilful pitter-patter of drums before a top-drawer sax line kicks in to propel things forward, while the piano plays a vital but understated role throughout – this really is an incredible eight-minutes of soulful Jazz. 

Track three is the Wayne Shorter penned ‘Infant Eyes’, and sees Tenderlonious pick up his flute, and have an incredible back and forth with Hamish Balfour on the keyboards. It’s a peacefully mellow way to end side 1, and one of the highlights of the album to our ears. 

Side two kicks off with another classic in the form of ‘Poor Eric’, another track made famous by Jackie McLean, but which was written in memory of Eric Dolphy. The sax solo is incredibly vibrant, but the highlight for us is again Balfour’s dexterous piano work, which provides a wonderful, sweet and tender centre. 

‘John Coltrane’ is a tribute to… well, no prizes for guessing who Tenderlonious views as one of the greatest saxophonists who ever lived. As many think Jazz died with Coltrane, he’s probably not alone in thinking that. This version sticks close to the Clifford Jordon original in its heart-felt tribute. This track swings in the Coltrane style, and is one of the most truly old-school pieces on the album. 

Finally, You Know I Care closes with the title track, a reworking of the classic 60s ballad that sees Tenderlonious pick up his flute once more to see us home. It’s a beautiful end to a cracking album. 

A final point in favour of You Know I Care, should one be needed, is its crystal clear, lovingly produced recording. The sax is sweet, and the drums, bass and piano well rendered and detailed. This all comes together to make it one of the best Jazz releases of its year. 

Back to Jazz

 

Adblocker Detected

"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..."

"There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."