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Robert is joined once again by Tom Mason (also The-Quartet and sometime bassist with Jack Cheshire’s live dates) and drummer Richard Spaven (4Hero, Mark De Clive-Lowe and numerous others) who featured in Robert’s group, Panacea (see their last album Trust).

No doubt 3iO have been inspired by one of the albums of last year, Robert Glasper’s In My Element as the trio sound is once again contemporary. Glasper’s album got initial attention on the strength of the cover medley of Herbie Hancock’s ‘Maiden Voyage’ and Radioheads ‘Everything In It’s Right Place’. So it’s not a bad idea to cover Massive Attack’s monster hit, ‘Teardrop’. And for those that like to dig a little deeper into exotic jazz fusion directions, the cover Galt (he of original Hair and co-writer of Nina Simone’s hit ‘Ain’t Got No - I Got Life’) MacDermot’s ‘Space’ with the 3iO treatment. The ‘treatment’ is generally a start slow, minimal expression that builds up to a climax; all in a controlled manner and very expressive. As good as any is their cover of Wayne Shorter’s ‘Dance Cadaverous’ (taken from the classic Blue Note album Speak No Evil).

As the titles suggest, ‘Cumulus’, ‘A Map Of The Shy’ and ‘Quantum’ really suite this style that they’ve been working on for some time as a live band; mostly at the Vortex where the album launch is being held next week. And then Robert is touring extensively throughout October and November, sometimes with 3iO, sometimes with Omar Puente (remember the duo’s Bridges album), sometimes with Brownswood’s ever excellent José James and ending with gigs at the London Jazz Festival (with Matthew Herbert back).

It’s a bit of a shame that ‘Quantum’ gets the fade out treatment whilst some of the best playing for me is on ‘Crystal Eyes’. The album ends with the title track, ‘Greater Good’ (the one that Gilles Peterson played this week) and it’s the most dance/commercial of the set as it’s written by Spaven and Vincent Helbers from the broken beat point of view.

Another class album this and I’m certainly looking to catch at least one of the live gigs.

Forthcoming Gigs
15 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3io@The Vortex. Debut album/tour launch The Greater Good with DJ Adam http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk
17 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Orange Street Music Club, Canterbury
18 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO @ Kings Place - www.kingsplace.co.uk London
19 Oct 2008 - Jose James @ Orange Rooms, Southampton
21 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Ram Jam Club Kingston
22 Oct 2008 - HKB Finn@ Somerset College
22 Oct 2008 - HKB Finn@ Vibe bar London
24 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Square Chapel, Halifax
28 Oct 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - St.Ives Jazz Club St.Ives, Cornwall
03 Nov 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Bristol Uni - UBU (Epi Bar) Bristol
06 Nov 2008 - Jose James @ Enjoy Jazz Heidelberg
07 Nov 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Cambridge Modern Jazz Club @ Kettles Yard, Cambridge
08 Nov 2008 - Jose James @ Aalen Jazzfest Aalen
09 Nov 2008 - UK Bass Day : Yolanda Charles - RNCM Manchester
11 Nov 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - Dempseys Cardiff, Wales
13 Nov 2008 - Robert M and Omar Puente @ Gidleigh V.Hall
14 Nov 2008 - Robert M and Omar Puente @ Rattery V.Hall
15 Nov 2008 - Robert M and Omar Puente @ Brentnor V.Hall tba
17 Nov 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO (London Jazz Festival) - Charlie Wrights, London
20 Nov 2008 - Julian Seigel and Robert Mitchell Duo (B4 Ben Allison) @ Pizza Express (London Jazz Festival)
21 Nov 2008 - Jose James (supporting Matthew Herbert) @ Royal Festival Hall (London Jazz Festival)
23 Nov 2008 - Robert Mitchell 3iO - London Jazz Festival special

Reviewed: Robert Mitchell 3iO - The Greater Good (Jazz Services) Cat. No. JSLCD002 Release date: 15th October 2008
Tracklisitng
1. Cumulus (6:57)
2. A Map Of The Sky (7:58)
3. Dance Cadaverous (7:59)
4. Quantum (5:47)
5. Space (2:40)
6. Ochre (8:27)
7. Crystal Eyes (4:49)
8. Teardrop (6:32)
9. The Blessing (5:36)
10. Greater Good (3:46)

Links
www.robertmitchellmusic.com
www.myspace.com/robertmitchellmusic
http://mitchellmusic.blogspot.com
www.jazzservices.org.uk
www.galtmacdermot.com
www.massiveattack.com
Gilles Peterson :: 9th October 2008 :: Superimposers in Session at Maida Vale
Robert Mitchell Trio - ‘Greater Good’