Blink is an intriguing trio that teams young Loop Collective members pianist Alcyona Mick and reedman Robin Fincker with the more experienced figure of drummer Paul Clarvis.

The band’s performance at the 2008 Cheltenham Jazz Festival confirmed that the group sound is more full-blooded than the instrumentation might suggest. This is not chamber jazz but neither is it difficult listening, for all the band’s commitment to improvisation.

Given that no two Blink performances are going to be exactly alike the live show was a fairly accurate trailer for this excellent debut album. Blink improvise upon themes written by Mick and Fincker with the pianist taking the lion’s share of the writing credits with six tunes to Fincker’s three. There is also an elegant and lyrical version of Harrison Birtwhistle’s “Berceuse de Jeanne”. In addition to his undoubted jazz credentials Clarvis is also a trained classical percussionist and has worked extensively with the composer in the past.

Blink push the written themes as far they will go often creating new structures along the way. Mick’s “Camoodi” is a stirring opener full of the leader’s percussive piano and the controlled exuberance of Clarvis’ drumming. The Birtwhistle piece follows by way of contrast.

Changes in dynamics occur throughout the album and keep this well programmed collection flowing nicely. Mick’s “Ronnie” has a lively, almost boppish theme underpinned by the composer’s Monkish piano. Her two handed approach allows her to anchor the band rhythmically as well as being a vital melodic component. A solo piano passage in this tune exhibits her abilities to the full.

Fincker’s brief “The Bar” leads into the broodingly lyrical “Quiet Afternoon” which exhibits the influence of European classical music. Fincker, hitherto heard on tenor sax switches to clarinet, his ruminative tones perfectly suited to the reflective mood of the piece.

Fincker’s edgy “Tin Box” was originally recorded by Outhouse, the post Polar Bear twin sax led group in which he also plays. Like “The Bar” it is full of the staccato phrases and darting riffs that seem to characterise his writing. There is a great dialogue between Mick and Clarvis in the tune’s middle section

The gently unfolding “The Gulf” is almost cinematic in it’s scope and is followed by “Something Like The Blues”, a fascinating deconstruction with a wry and knowing musical sense of humour.

“Long Forgotten To You” marks a return to a more pastoral mood with Fincker again featuring on clarinet. However the mood becomes more unsettling as the piece progresses with Mick’s dense playing to the fore.

All ends serenely before Fincker’s typically jagged “The Mess” concludes the album. Something of a drum feature for Clarvis this number is stretched out in a live context. Here it is a concentrated burst of energy with Fincker’s clipped phrases and Mick’s skittering Keith Tippett style piano.

Blink’s blurring of the written and the improvised makes for fascinating listening but there is a sense of fun here that entails that the music never becomes overly serious or pompous. It helps that they hang their improvisations on a sturdy framework. The written themes are all strong with Mick taking particular credit as a composer.

The spirit of group interaction is excellent and the playing exemplary. Blink deserve to do well with this assured debut.

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