Fowl Play was recorded at Berry Hill Studio, Coleford, in The Forest of Dean in July 2007.


It was laid down at a single session and has the true quality of spontaneous , live jazz with the odd quirk kept in for posterity.


Nigel Jarratt's critical appraisal:
I'm impressed by Fowl Play. It's been recycling all week on my car's CD player. If every part-time resident band was this good, landlords would start charging entrance.
First I like the recording - well forward, no extraneity and evenly balanced, though the bass could be taken down a step here and there and the drums up a smidgin. For a quartet that's not playing somewhere every night or not recording for some obscure label, the interplay is very good.
I take your point about standards (Jazz-In play standards infrequently) 'Rainbow' being the exception that proves the rule. I'd really like to here this as a complete duet, such is the equality of flute and keyboard, but the sudden stretto comes as a pleasant surprise - just the thing to end a set.
I also like the no-nonsense statement of themes, especially the quirkier ones such as Stuffy, Groove Merchant and Sugar Buzz, with their evidence of the rehearsal needed to meet audience expectations. You always know if a quartet is relaxed, because the drummer starts cheekily interjecting, as JG does on Sally, but John and Dayne comprise an attentive boiler-room on which you can rely, as you do yourself on Lynn's confident harmonic sense. Above all, there's variety, which makes a change.
Best
Nigel J