CD Review: Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio -The 11th Gate

Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio -The 11th Gate
(Motéma 233437. CD Review by Chris Parker)

Sparked by his friend Courtney Pine's question: 'Is it possible to present a trombone-led organ trio, reflecting your musical influences and styles?', this latest album by trombonist/composer Dennis Rollins filters his main influences, among them Larry Young, Steve Coleman, Jimmy Bossche and Julian Priester – but also non-jazz figures such as Maceo Parker, Bob Marley and even Pink Floyd – through his own distinctive musical sensibility, honed by decades of experience taking his funky jazz message to ever increasing audiences in Europe and beyond.

As author and journalist Willard Jenkins points out in a glowing liner-note tribute, Rollins is a man possessed of a 'brass-proud' approach, a 'wealth of tone' and an ability to utilise multi-phonics, and he uses all his technical and imaginative resources on this bright, celebratory album, on which he is joined by Hammond organist Ross Stanley and drummer Pedro Segundo.

The result is an irresistibly enjoyable set of ten in-band originals and one classic (Eddie Harris's 'Freedom Jazz Dance'), many employing electronically harmonised 'bone theme statements, but all infused with the robust but carefully calibrated energy and rich, intensely human tone characteristic of all Rollins's work.

Funkily danceable, but with enough subtlety and elegance to reward repeated (seated) listening, The 11th Gate is a tasty appetiser for Rollins's forthcoming LJF appearance (Forge, Camden, 17 November).

DennisRollins.com / Dennis Rollins at Motema

Review: Dennis Rollins Velocity Trio

Dennis Rollins' Velocity Trio
(Kings Place Hall Two, Part of The Base series. June 4th 2011. Review and photo credit: Roger Thomas)

The instrumentation of this trombone-led trio, with drums and Hammond is certainly rare, and may even be unique. But Dennis Rollins' take-no-prisoners performance, backed up by the funky ballistics of Pedro Segundo and the grinding groove of Ross Stanley, gave us excitement right from the get-go, with an opener 'Hot To Trot' which lived up to its name.

'The Grass Seems Greener On The Other Side' had all three stretching out to give us a beatiful vision. Pedro played a mischievous intro with stick and mallets before Dennis flipped a switch on his array of electronic boxes to incorporate a sampled groove. The transformation was complete when Ross added a deep grooving organ for Dennis to ride over like a shifting herd of elephants sauntering through a lush grassland.

Whether it be the spiritual overtones of Pink Floyd's A Great Day For Freedom or Eddie Harris' Freedom Jazz Dance and definitely 'The Big Chill', a kaleidoscope of moods and shifts in tempo blended with some subtle electronic gadgetry made for a very exciting and larger than life sound.

Dennis Rollins plays with energy, clarity and precision. He has the backup of formidable sidemen, and there is never a dull moment. With a new album planned for release on 11th November, which just happens to be Dennis' birthday, I'm sure he has some interesting treats in store for us.

UPDATE: Dennis Rollins' Management have sent in a list of forthcoming live dates for the trio

18 June: Corsham Jazz Festival, Wiltshire
25 June - Hebden Bridge Jazz Festival
30 June - Glasgow Int'l Jazz festival
1 July - The Tolbooth, Stirling
2 July - The Coliseum, Whitby
3 July - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (supporting Ramsey Lewis)
23 July - Hull Jazz Festival @ Hull Civic Theatre
11 November - Millennium Hall, Sheffield
12 November @ The Edge, Shropshire
16 November - Ropetackle Arts Festival, Shoreham-by-Sea
17 November - London Jazz Festival @ The Forge, Camden
3 December - The Old Fire Station, Oxford
10 December - Taliesen Arts Centre, Swansea