The David Rees-Williams Trio http://davidrees-williams.com was
formed in 1988 and features David Rees-Williams on piano, Neil Francis on bass
guitar and Phil Laslett on drums. Based in Canterbury, Kent, they have
performed many concerts in a diverse selection of festivals and events in the
UK, Europe, The United States and Barbados.
The Trio set about re-inventing and re-working well known
music from various eras and styles. Rees-William’s arrangement of Purcell’s When I am Laid in Earth from their CD Classically Minded was played on BBC 3’s
In Tune leading to an extraordinary number of enquiries about the Trio and a
commercial disc.
Since then another recording Hidden Colours featuring arrangements of Purcell, Bach, Grieg,
Faure, Debussy and Ravel has been widely praised becoming Editor’s Choice in
HMV Choice Magazine and best of its genre by the Financial Times.
Following an equally
well received recording Time Scape
that included arrangements of works by Ravel, Bach, Chopin, Stanford, Purcell,
Buxtehude, Elgar and Warlock they have now recorded a Christmas disc for Champs
Hill Records www.champshillrecords.co.uk
entitled
Ex-Mass.
 |
| CHRCD047 |
The title of this new release, Ex-Mass is not only a play on the word Xmas but also reflects
taking this music out of its ecclesiastical setting.
Gabriel's Message has
as its origins a Basque melody, this arrangement opening with the piano of David
Rees-Williams to which a rich bass line is given by Neil Francis, subtly adding
a warmth. The carol takes a lovely flowing line soon pointed up by the
percussion of Phil Laslett before developing some terrific, free flowing piano
passages to which Hammond organ and vibraphone passages are added.
The 14th century Bavarian melody Personent hodie is given a lovely mixture of instrumental sounds,
piano, bass, Hammond organ and drums in a light rhythmic version. This Trio
bring a real feel of improvisation as the tempo picks up a really jazzy pace.
There is some terrific playing here with David Rees-Williams showing himself to
be a very fine jazz pianist.
Peter Warlock’s lovely
Bethlehem Down finds Rees-Williams bringing a gentle, freely developed
improvisatory arrangement. Eventually bass and drums join to add a gentle
rhythm. This is a lovely performance with the organ adding occasional texture.
Quem pastores (Whom
shepherds) opens here with piano, bass and drums gently and slowly developing
into the well-known English hymn tune. The organ adds sonority before there is
an increase in tempo through some terrific passages.
Der Tag... (der
ist so freudenreich) (The day is so full of joy) is taken from Bach’s
Orgelbuchlein and brings much of Bach’s contrapuntal invention with a fast
rhythmic forward drive. It develops some fine passages with a broad piano line
taken over a faster accompaniment with the addition of an organ especially
appropriate.
With the Czech carol, Rocking
Rees-Williams brings a contrasting slow, quieter arrangement gently pointed up
by Laslett’s drums, Francis’ bass and some passages for Hammond organ as it develops
some fast jazzy lines. Absolutely terrific.
There is more Bach with an arrangement based on the famous Chorale prelude, Erbarm’ dich... (DRW 911) (Erbarm’ dich
mein, o Herre Gott, BWV 721) where Rees-Williams’ use of an electric keyboard
brings an amazingly effective approximation of a church organ. Though he
re-creates the sound world of Bach, hidden within is a popular song for
listeners to guess. I’ll not give the game away here.
The traditional Czech Zither
Carol hurtles off with an unashamedly fast, jazzy rhythmic arrangement,
enough to raise the spirits on the dullest December day.
The piano of David Rees-Williams gently wanders around the
theme of perhaps the most popular carol here, Stille Nacht, with light percussion accompaniment and a light use
of bass. Slowly the familiar melody appears in this rather magical arrangement.
There is a lovely flowing King Jesus Hath a Garden with light percussion and the organ subtly
adding to the texture and bass adding a lovely subtle warmth and rhythmic point
to this arrangement of a traditional Dutch carol.
The piano slowly picks out the theme of O Come, O Come (Emanuel) before soon broadening through gently
flowing, freely improvised passages. It develops some rhythmic phrases, almost
as though creating bell chimes with the Hammond organ adding a lovely sonority
over the other instruments. This is another glorious arrangement and performance.
Finally there is an upbeat arrangement of the French carol, Il est né, le divin Enfant … (He is
born, the Holy Child) with piano, percussion and bass bringing a fine rhythmic drive.
The vibraphone subtly appears to add colour when the organ joins, the jazz
variations increase, rising to a joyful, rhythmic conclusion.
Full marks to Champs Hill for bringing us this terrific
disc. These fine musicians bring a freshness to this well-known music. It is a
real joy.
I can see this being a favourite Christmas disc for many – a
real winner.
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