Search - Jesper Thilo :: Strike Up the Band

Mr. Thilo in fine form

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 07/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jesper Thilo is a tenor player in the Coleman Hawkins-Ben Webster mold. He has a strong attack with an edgy yet burnished tone. His solos are lyrical and imaginative. He never seems to run out of ideas and he's always swinging whether he's caressing a ballad or storming through a burner. He is as accomplished as Scott Hamilton or Harry Allen and has been the surprise favourite at many European jazz festivals.



This is a beautifully recorded concert performance from Baden, Switzerland back in August of '98. Bob Barnard is heard on cornet, Henri Chaix on piano, Stephan Kurman on the bass, and Romano Cavicchiolo on the drums. Everyone sounds inspired and they play with intensity throughout the program. Bob Barnard and Henri Chaix have many solo moments that they make the best of. Barnard, in particular, sounds fine, lifted, perhaps, by the excellent playing from Thilo.



It's too bad that this one will probably be overlooked by collectors of mainstream/swing. All the right ingredients are there and then some. It's easy to recommend this disc. One listen and you'll surely agree."