Indigo Kid II: Fist Full of Notes | Album Review

Fist Full of Notes
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Artist: Indigo Kid II
Genre: Jazz
Label: Babel Label

Like most jazz musicians of his generation, guitarist Dan Messore draws on a pretty wide variety of influences in his music, and some are what you might expect: Frisell, Metheny, Rosenwinkel.

But also discernible on the young Englishman’s follow-up to his well-received debut album are more unexpected references: to folk music – think Bert Jansch with effects pedals; and to more exotic flavours, courtesy of time spent in Costa Rica.

Saxophonist Iain Ballamy, who mentored the young guitarist at the Welsh College of Music, adds his soft-spoken authority on a couple of tracks and the rest feature fast-rising saxophonist Trish Clowes, while the hugely experienced rhythm section of drummer Martin France and bassist Tim Harries frame Messore’s likeable melodies with solid grooves.

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Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a musician, writer and director