Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

Goodbye Swingtime was such an important album five years ago back up with a sell out London Jazz Fesitval gig at the Royal Festival Hall (supported by 2 Banks Of 4, who also released an album this year - see the Junkyard Gods review). Originally commissioned by Gilles Peterson for the Montreux Jazz Festival, this project always had labour of love written all over it.

What’s changed over the past 5 years? Well Herbert is still here as ring master of the sampler (a bit like a large scale Daedelus). The band is still as big and very jazzy whilst Dani Siciliano has been replace on vocals by Eska Mtungwazi. Eska et al were pretty exceptional in a “BIG” way on the Saturday night at the Big Chill Festival in the summer so much is expected of the album.

And it certainly kicks of large with ‘The Storey’. ‘Pontificate’ is a bit glitchy and disjointed but when the band leader is an electronic producer known most for pushing boundaries and genre conventions, that’s what you’d expect. It’s jazz big band with a bit show-time cabaret (‘The Yesness’, ‘Breathe’), a bit Radio Orchestra, a bit circus act (‘Nonsounds’) and a bit of a return to swingtime (‘Just Swing’)

The line up for this years’ London Jazz Festival is the biggest and best yet with Herbert returning with the Big Band to The Royal Festival Hall; support this time from Brownswood’s very own José James (he of the brilliant album The Dreamer and Robert Mitchell fan).

On the first few listens, I’m not sure that the CD captures their live performance power but tracks like ‘Breathe’, ‘Just Swing’ and ‘The Story’ come closest.

Reviewed: Matthew Herbert Big Band - There’s Me & There’s You (Accidental) Release date: 10th November 2008
Tracklisting
1. The Story (6:25)
2. Pontificate (2:54)
3. Waiting (5:37)
4. The Yesness (4:50)
5. Battery (6:15)
6. Regina (5:53)
7. The Rich Man’s Prayer (4:05)
8. Breathe (7:28)
9. Knowing (2:08)
10. Nonsound (3:15)
11. One Life (5:30)
12. Just Swing (5:27)

Links
www.matthewherbert.com
www.myspace.com/matthewherbert
www.matthewherbertbigband.com
www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/radio3