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 Robert Jarvis
Carving up time
(SLAM)
With a short call the
trombone commands the listener's attention and almost instantly
introduces an infectious riff, soon underpinned by bass and drums.
A sax becomes
intertwined in the plot and before you know it, the whole thing
starts swinging like a colony of apes.
When putting on "Carving up time", the first CD
released by Robert Jarvis under his own name, one is overcome by a
pleasing sentiment of surprise, the likes of: This is fun....
Last year the British
trombonist could be heard in the Netherlands performing with Hugh
Hopper's band, but generally his astounding playing
remains a well kept secret. It seems obvious that every musician
would want this man in their band. His tone is unheard of beautiful,
and technically he seems capable of anything.
The trombone is
sometimes considered an awkward instrument, but Jarvis shatters this
preconception. Everything he plays is pure, with hair
splitting timing, and above all with clarity.
Aimless shots, loose fumbles and mere trifles are out of
order with this trombonist.
The Dutch saxophonist,
Frank van der Kooij, is an excellent sparring partner for Jarvis.
His tone and way of playing provides a perfect match for the Brit.
The trombonist's pieces demand this, it has to do with overall
sound, less with individual solo effusions.
The CD finishes with a
longer composition in five parts, where Henk de Laat and Oscar
Schulze are replaced by Alan Niblock and Jean-Victor de Boer on
bass and drums respectively, and for this the trombonist has added
electronic manipulations of field recordings from Zimbabwe.
These occur intermittently, mostly at the beginning or
at the end of the various sections, and are not prevailing. They
sound as an introduction to the music that follows.
The mood of this
composition is at times darker than that of the other pieces,
however, all in all, the whole thing sounds graceful and
without pretence.
And most importantly,
it bursts with the delight of playing music. Listening to
people who have fun making music, and who can pull it off, is always
a pleasure.
KOEN SCHOUTEN, 3-4-2001 | 
