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After the success of the Robert Mitchell 3IO (that’s trio to you and me) album last year with The Greater Good, 2010’s The Cusp finds the Panacea with nine new Mitchell compositions, the biggest band yet and their finest hour to date.

Joining Robert are regulars Deborah Jordan (vocals), Tom Mason on bass, Shaney Forbes on drums (last seen on FLY on Empirical Out ‘N’ In album) plus Hammadi Valdez (percussion), Julian Ferraretto (violin/viola) and Ben Davis on cello (he of working with Julia Biel and Ingrid Laubrock).

Recorded earlier this year in London, the music is certainly as delicate as the beautifully photographed cover shot and then, at one point, as jazz-funky as the Headhunters!

So where do I begin? Whilst the title track is mid-CD, it’s interesting as it’s the one that’s on it’s own in the context of the other tracks (the one that’s most Headhunters) as Robert goes electric and Deborah shares the lyrical duties with HKB Finn doing a Ty-esque spoken rap from his own poem ‘The Cusp’ a la Anthony Joseph. An obvious hit for your jazzdance diggers as the percussion gets rapid and it’s also got “out there” bits. The poem is urban. The music is 70s ghetto. We are on the cusp of Black Saint. Black Jazz, Black Fire: I can’t believe Peterson hasn’t played this yet as it’s a track of the year contender!

And could that be strength to this album as what goes before and after ranges from ACT to ECM (the duet of Robert and Deborah on ‘Lucid Dreamt’ being particularly delicate). Whilst you could imagine a harsher critic than I comparing it to Barbara Strisand/Liza Manelli/Judy Collin et al, it’s a sharp contrast to ‘The Cusp’.

So with the two extremes covered, the magnificent other seven are taking over my iPod (note that the CD release is now out). To rewind a little, after so much jazz piano enthusiasm of late (in particular Vijay Iyer), Mitchell’s playing is a fantastic study in light and shade, jazz and even classical elements. ‘A Map Of The Sky’ (with a bubbling bass solo by Tom), slips in a bit of Hitchcock strings with a Chick Corea spirit, ‘Quantum’ is even more atmospheric with silent movie soundtrack potential (Jordan, cymbals and strings keeping the tension going).

Now, I’ve been told off for being too analytical (Ed. Really?) but Mitchell’s lyrics are quite wordy at times but I wonder if this all part of the plan, for instance on the closing track ‘Flawless’ the percussion if very much to the fore in the mix whilst Deborah is singing and then Robert takes over and then the hand claps join in, a bit of glockenspeil, the strings swoop and cascade (Ed. you’re being too analytical).

As a jazzhead, it’s a Panacea album so I’m going to love it but the first four tracks are increasingly getting absorbed into my sense of self (Jordan and strings are so big on ‘Essence’ and ‘Aura’, ones to watch - in fact ‘Aura’ is my favourite after ‘The Cusp’ as it’s so the essence of the album; although ‘Fortunately So’ and ‘The Blessing’ are stunningly close - turn the bass up on ‘The Blessing’ for full on pleasure).

The band are going on a tour that takes them into early next year (see separate review of the Forge gig this week HERE) and that includes The Vortex gig as part of the London Jazz Festival (November 12th). There’s some incredible bands (and pianists) coming to London for the Festival, but The Cusp is not your everyday polyrhythmic, soulful, neo-classical, poetic, cerebralism that some would have you believe; it’s epic diggin’ gold that’s available now - so get it now!

P.S. in addition to the CD, there’s a limited vinyl release which is even better so act quick.

Tour dates: ROBERT MITCHELL’S PANACEA
13th Sept - Pizza Express, London ALBUM LAUNCH
23rd Sept - Forge Arts Centre (Quartet Only)
8th Oct - Platform One, Newport, Isle of Wight - Workshop (Quartet Only)
9th Oct - Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon,
10th Oct - Jazz @ Future Inn, Bristol
12th Oct - RWCMD, Cardiff (Workshop Only)
12th Oct - Dempseys, Cardiff
7th Nov - Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
11th Nov - Guitar X - Workshop, London
12th Nov - The Vortex (LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL)
3rd Dec - Fleece Jazz, Colchester
2011
21st Jan - Liverpool Phil, Rodewald Suite
27th Jan - The Spin Jazz Club, Oxford
12th Feb - Kings Place, York Way London

Reviewed: Robert Mitchell’s Panacea - The Cusp (Edition) Cat. No. EDN1023CD/V Release date: 13th September 2010 [digital] 20th September 2010 [CD/Limited Vinyl] Notes: This recording is dedicated to Norman Mitchell (1930-2009)
Tracklisting;
1. Essence (5:36)
2. Aura (5:15)
3. Fortunately So (7:00)
4. The Blessing (7:11)
5. The Cusp Voice feat. HKB Finn (Spoken Word) from the poem ‘On The Cusp’ written by HKB Finn] (4:57)
6. Lucid Dreamt (7:06)
7. A Map Of the Sky (8:36)
8. Quantum (6:50)
9. Flawless (5:54)

Links:
www.robertmitchellmusic.com
‘Mitchell is a lyricist and a thinker, and British jazz is far richer for his presence.’ - Mike Butler, Metro
www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk
London Jazz Festival 12th November - The Vortex 8.30pm
www.editonrecords.com
Pete Slavid on UK Jazz Radio - The show goes out Wednesday 9pm and is repeated at midnight, then Thursday 1pm; Friday 4am and 12noon; Saturday 8am and 5pm; Sunday 6pm; Monday 2pm; Tuesday 3pm; and finally on Wednesday at 1am. Check ukjazzradio.com/schedules.html for latest details
22nd Sept 2010
‘Dry Fear’, ‘The Tide Has Changed’, ‘All The Way to Montenegro’, ‘We Laugh All’ from The Tide Has Changed by Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble (Oct 2010: World village)
‘I’m Sure This Wasn’t The Plan, Irreconcilable and Presently/Rollin’ from “Flight Line” by Rachel Musson’s Skein (2010: F-IRE presents)
‘Quick Draw’ from Anti-House by Ingrid Laubrock (2010: Intakt)
‘Break It’ from live at jazzbaltica by [em] (2010: ACT)
1st Sept 2010
The Blessing’, ‘A Map Of The Sky’ both from The Cusp by Robert Mitchell’s Panacea (2010: Edition)
www.forgevenue.org/whats-on
Empiricalmusic.com
London Jazz Festival 16th November - Empirical - Out ‘N’ In Forthcoming dates:
1 Oct 2010 20:00 Nasjonal Jazz Scene (National Jazz Scene) : Oslo, Norway, NORWAY
2 Oct 2010 20:00 Nefertiti Jazz Club Gothenburg, Sweden, SWEDEN
5 Oct 2010 20:00 Fasching Jazz Club: Stockholm, Sweden, SWEDEN
Sunday 31 October: Walk Tall - a tribute to Cannonball Adderley with Kevin Le Gendre @ The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU Box office: 0121 333 2444
Tuesday 16 November: London Jazz Festival @ Peter Parker’s Club, Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LP - the last opportunity to see the Dolphy ‘Out ‘n’ In project in London, as they are writing tunes for a new album to be released in 2011. Box office: 020 7836 1451
www.normawinstone.com