The Peter Edwards Trio

“A Matter Of Instinct”

(Peter Edwards Music EMP002CD)

“A Matter Of Instinct” is the second album as a leader by the London based pianist and composer Peter Edwards. Released on his own label it’s the keenly anticipated follow up to 2014’s excellent “Safe And Sound” which garnered considerable acclaim from jazz commentators and audiences alike. The success of Edwards’ début also helped to bring him a number of awards including a 2014 MOBO nomination for ‘Best Newcomer’ and the 2015 Jazz FM Award for ‘Breakthrough Act’.   

A graduate of the Jazz Course at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire and an alumnus of the Tomorrow’s Warriors young artist development programme Edwards worked with the late trumpeter and composer Abram Wilson, appearing on Wilson’s superb 2009 album “Life Paintings”. He has also worked extensively with the singers Nicola Emmanuelle and Zara McFarlane, with the band Rhythmica and with the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, often acting as director and arranger for the latter. He’s also gaining a reputation as an excellent educator and workshop leader as he passes on his knowledge to a new generation of Tomorrow’s Warriors.

Away from his own trio Edwards is probably best known for his work with McFarlane and he appears on both of her widely acclaimed album releases “Until Tomorrow” (2011) “If You Knew Her” (2013). As well as playing piano Edwards also acts as McFarlane’s co-writer, arranger and musical director. He’s very much the singer’s ‘musical right hand man’, a role that he also used to fulfil for Emmanuelle.

“A Matter Of Instinct” features the same exciting young trio that helped to make “Safe And Sound” such a success with Edwards being joined by Max Luthert on bass and rising star Moses Boyd at the drums. All three musicians have worked with McFarlane who has acted as something of a unifying force for them.

Luthert is perhaps best known for his role in the acclaimed sax trio Partikel alongside saxophonist Duncan Eagles and drummer Eric Ford. He has also worked in a quintet co-led by Eagles and trumpeter Mark Perry and in the band led by drummer and composer Ollie Howell. In 2014 he released his well received leadership début “Orbital” for Whirlwind Recordings and he has also been a member of guitarist Leo Appleyard’s quintet.

Boyd followed Edwards through the Jazz Warriors set-up and the in demand young drummer has since worked with bassist Gary Crosby, trumpeter Jay Phelps, pianist Andrew McCormack and saxophonist Denys Baptiste. Currently he’s riding the crest of a wave following the acclaim accorded to his dynamic duo partnership with saxophonist Binker Golding. Trading as Binker & Moses the pair won the award for Best Jazz Act at the 2015 MOBOs and their vinyl only début album “Dem Ones” (Gearbox Records) has been extremely well received.

“A Matter Of Instinct” features eight new original Edwards compositions specifically written for this trio. Like its predecessor the album covers an impressive range of jazz styles with Edwards again exhibiting his affection for, and affinity with, many of the musical aspects of the African diaspora. “So much of this music is about instincts. I’ve faithfully followed my own instinctive musical voice when devising each track presented on this album”, he explains.

Edwards and his colleagues embark on their latest musical journey with the sunny Brazilian flavourings of “Samba City” which the trio approach in a suitably relaxed and breezy fashion with Luthert’s buoyant bass grooves and the busy chatter of Boyd’s brushes the perfect foil for Edwards’ fleet fingered pianistics. There’s also something of a feature for the ebullient Boyd as the energy levels escalate. It’s a joyous, attention grabbing opener.

The title of “Loved Ones” refers to the ongoing support Edwards has received from his family and friends. Again the piece has a Latin-esque feel, this time more relaxed and languid with Edwards placing the emphasis very much on melody – it’s no co-incidence that he has worked so extensively with singers. Boyd’s subtle but colourful drumming is a delight throughout with its mix of inventive hand drumming and deft stick work.

“Groove Swing Funk” ups the energy levels once more as the trio explore a variety of rhythms with Luthert’s walking bass lines contrasting well with Boyd’s more contemporary drum grooves as Edwards cleverly mines the spaces in between in typically sparkling fashion. 

We segue almost immediately into “The Runaround”, a playful stop/start theme with a tune title reminiscent of the classic Blue Note era. The trio build up a terrific swing on this as Edwards’ piano dances around Luthert’s high velocity bass walk and the engaging bustle of Boyd’s brushed drum grooves. There’s an attractive drum feature towards the close of the tune on a piece that has variously evoked comparisons with the music of Erroll Garner and Wynton Kelly.

Edwards switches to Fender Rhodes for the relaxed funk of the title track, his slinky electric piano subtly but insistently propelled by Boyd’s busy drum grooves. Indeed it’s the muscularity of the rhythm section’s performance that prevents the piece from straying too far into smooth jazz territory.

“Flying High” marks a return to more orthodox straight ahead jazz, its typically breezy theme allowing for some excellent interplay between the members of the trio with Luthert and Boyd both making excellent and distinctive contributions.

The slow blues “Down But Not Out”, with its allusions to “Georgia On My Mind”, reveals Edwards’ love of classic jazz and blues. The title is a reference to the overcoming of adversity.
It’s a soulful ballad performance that includes a beautifully melodic plucked solo from Luthert, one of the UK’s most versatile and in demand young bassists.

The album closes with “Escape Velocity”, a title meant to signify the breaking free from perceived limitations. More expansive and contemporary sounding than much of the album it’s based upon a hook like melodic motif around which the trio extemporise. The performance is more interactive than some of those others on the album where the bass and drums tend to fulfil traditionally supportive roles. One of the highlights here is a dazzling drum feature from Boyd shortly before the end of the tune.

“A Matter Of Instinct” is a highly accomplished album with excellent playing from all three protagonists. Edwards’ gift for melody, which some have compared favourably with Ramsey Lewis, ensures that this is a readily accessible album that will appeal to a wide range of jazz listeners.

That said I still found myself feeling a little disappointed by this record. I thoroughly enjoyed “Safe And Sound” and also a live appearance by the Edwards Trio, on this occasion featuring bassist Rob Anstey and drummer Ed Richardson, at the 2014 EFG London Jazz Festival.

Call it ‘second album syndrome’ if you will but “A Matter Of Instinct” does sound very much like what our American cousins like to call a ‘sophomore record’. The writing and playing are impeccable but somehow on “A Matter Of Instinct” Edwards seems to be consolidating or playing it safe, there’s very little real musical risk taking. Perhaps it’s impossible to reproduce the effect and excitement of that first album but somehow “Instinct”, as good as it is, doesn’t quite deliver the expected step forward. 

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