NEW RELEASE – FLORIAAN WEMPE

Lowland post-bopper branches out on the sunny side of the street.  

It’s always a treat to hear a tenor saxophonist and composer shamelessly and fearlessly living the lessons of giants like Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Clifford Jordan, Herbie Hancock, Cedar Walton, Michael Brecker. The treat here is Floriaan Wempe, who is inspired without succumbing to epigonism. Wempe is a mainstay on the Dutch scene and has collaborated intensively with Philip Harper, Willie Jones III and Roy Hargrove, among others, with three albums including The Light Of Day on his résume.

Typically “The Hague”, coming from a solid bop and hard bop tradition, you would have, if you’re a bit of an observer, seen a tall, slender, blond-haired chap milling about anxiously and enthusiastically in the halls of the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague or Rotterdam, where living legends and top-tier contemporary heroes unite, likely with his alto sax friend Tom van der Zaal, only to see him partake in a jam a little while later.

So, that’s the kind of guy, Long Tall Wempe and The Light Of Day, a high-quality record full of spirited, hip melodies, you’re actually almost finding yourself in Rudy van Gelder’s studio in the mid-1960s, The Lion’s on the phone, The Wolff’s taking pictures, the other day it’s Bob Thiele tending business, jazz in elegant monochrome.

Certainly a record of today, though. A new chapter in Wempe’s career, with a new band, his stab at lyric writing, and fresh ways of composing. Wempe: “Nowadays, I tend to look more at the essence of a natural melody and space for interpretation. We had a lot of fun with my pieces and I hope that they will linger in the head of the listener and maybe inspire other musicians as well.” 

The mid-tempo What Do To stands out, Wempe with his eye on the prize, building a well-structured story with ever-growing energy, edging his bright, big tone with some pieces of sandpaper. Kinetic stuff! October 10 is equally swinging and sophisticated, marked by a sort of Horace Silver-stop-time-feeling, kickstarted rather brilliantly by the wonderful pianist Rob van Bavel, followed by pithy unisono bop lines by the horns.

Modal-tinged Quest, with lovely harmonic twists, is without a doubt one of the hard-swingenest tunes of this year. In a more subdued vein, the pastoral Acquiescence thrives on the pairing of alto sax and piano.

His is a positively exciting group, completed by trumpeter Rodolfo Ferreira Neves, bassist Steven Zwanink and Jones III on drums. Then there’s guest vocalist Fay Claassen, Holland’s finest, appearing on three tunes including Angel Roy, a touching homage to Roy Hargrove, and the ballad Love Me, where her sublime intensity meets with Neves’s soulful trumpet.

Welcome additions to a top-rate contemporary post-bop album.

Check out The Light Of Day on Floriaan’s website here: http://floriaanwempe.com/

Here’s What To Do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwny4hJNbSw

Here’s The Observer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQrNZieEVOM&list=RDCQrNZieEVOM&start_radio=1