Joy Mining

Iain Matthews & Searing Quartet (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 8, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fledg'ling/Forced Exposure
• ASIN: B002NVTBN6
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,452 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 from Iain Matthews, formerly of Fairport Convention, Southern Comfort and Plainsong fame, who returns, after a long absence, with a stunning collection of Jazz arranged songs. On paper, it's a strange pairing: Egbert Derix is an established Jazz composer from the Netherlands and Iain Matthew's roots, have taken hold in contemporary singer/songwriter circles. Derix's finely honed sense of melody and feel and Matthews carefully crafted lyrics, created something very precise and special. The ensemble completed a recording of 12 new compositions and the album Joy Mining was born. Fled'ling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish new direction, January 11, 2010

By 

Friendlycard (Norfolk, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy Mining (Audio CD)

In his sleeve notes, Iain Matthews says that, bar none, this is the finest album of his career. In reviewing this stylish new direction from a master of his craft, I was tempted either to agree (because this album is so good) or, alternatively, to have the temerity to disagree (because I like so many of his earlier albums).

To me, Iain Matthews is a genius. Throughout a career that has spanned Fairport, Plainsong and a string of stellar solo albums, he has proved that he is one of the very best vocalists in the business. He is even better - if that is possible - as a composer. Anyone needing proof of this statement need only hear, say, "God's Empty Chair" or "A Cross To Bear". He is, quite simply, Britain's finest singer-songwriter. He deserves to be recognised as such.

On "Joy Mining", Iain has teamed up with Searing Quartet to take his music in a strikingly new direction - this is modern jazz, delivered with exquisite musicianship in a cool, late-night, laid-back style. Any jazz fan will love this, and established followers of Iain will relish it once they adjust to the difference from his earlier material. The quartet are superb - together, Egbert Derix on piano, Peter Hermesdorf on sax, Norbert Leurs on bass and Sjoerd Rutten on drums and percussion provide a classy and seamless setting for Iain's ever-brilliant vocals.

All the tracks here are good, but I must pick out "St Theresa's Ghost", "Randolph Scott", "Another Night in Paradise" and the intriguingly-titled "Shakespeare's Typewriter" as stand-outs.

Is this a better album than "Pure and Crooked", "Skeleton Keys" or "Live Alone"? I don't think one needs to choose. Instead, just enjoy them all.