CD Title Lyric Pieces.

Martin Pickett - Piano, Steve Waterman - Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Mark Bassey - Trombone, Paul Jefferies - Double Bass, Ben Twyford - Drums.

Tracks:

1. Defeat The Machine 8.09

2. Soft Focus 5.31

3. Nocturne 5.16

4. Received Wisdom7.18

5. To The Max4.56

6. East Of Evesham 7.32

7. Fragile Lives6.46

8. Don't Ask! 5.32

All music by Martin Pickett

Recorded on 22nd June 2009 at Porcupine Studios, Mottingham by Nick Taylor

Barcode: 5028386028628

This is Martin Pickett's usual 3BPM trio with the addition of Waterman and Bassey on horns. 3BPM has 
included contemporary and pop tunes in its repertoire but here it's all Pickett's own compositions 
which all have a song-like form; hence the titular nod to Elgar. As songs, each piece has an emotional 
hook, from the upbeat and swinging Defeat The Machine to the more introspective Soft Focus to the 
stop-start thythms of Don't Ask! The two guest horns add some real spice to the proceedings with 
improvisation that is constantly accessible but unpredictable while Pickett's piano is the glue 
that holds it all together. In some indefinable manner, this is quintessentially British jazz.
Dave Foxall Jazz Journal July 2012
 
 
Con questo disco l'etichetta Slam Records di George Haslam ribadisce una verità elementare: 
il jazz comprende una pluralità di linguaggi che hanno pieno diritto d'esprimersi creativamente.
Il cuore di questo disco è il trio 3PBM composto dal pianista Martin Pickett, dal bassista 
Paul Jefferies e dal batterista Ben Twyford allargato con l'inclusione della tromba e flicorno 
di Steve Waterman e del trombone di Mark Bassey.
Sono musicisti di prim'ordine del panorama britannico e presentano un jazz moderno raffinato, 
particolarmente attento agli impasti timbrici ed ai valori melodici, che privilegia un dialogo 
rilassato e ricco di sottigliezze. Tutto scorre con molta linearità, e se vogliamo una certa 
prevedibilità, ma il pregio consiste nel cura con cui ogni brano si dipana in un piacevole 
accostamento di climi diversi: brani ritmicamente vivaci come "Received Wisdom," "Don't Ask!" 
o il modale e funkeggiante "Defeat The Machine" oppure liriche ballad come "East of Evesham," 
"Fragile Lives" e "Nocturne".
Tra gli strumentisti spiccano la sensibilità armonica di Pickett, e la raffinatezza timbrica 
timbrica dei due ottoni.
Angelo Leonardi http://italia.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=7674
TRANSLATION:
With this record label Slam Records of George Haslam reaffirms a basic truth: jazz includes a 
plurality of languages ​​that have every right to express themselves creatively.
The heart of this album is the trio 3PBM composed by pianist Martin Pickett, bassist Paul Jefferies 
and drummer Ben Twyford expanded with the inclusion of the trumpet and flugelhorn and trombone of 
Steve Waterman Mark Bassey.
They are first class musicians of the British landscape and have a stylish modern jazz, particularly
attentive to the mixtures and the values ​​melodic timbre, which favors a dialogue relaxed and full of 
subtleties.Everything flows very linear, and if we want some predictability, but the advantage is in 
the care with which each song unfolds into a nice combination of different climates: rhythmically lively 
songs like "Received Wisdom," "Do not Ask!"or modal funkeggiante "Defeat The Machine" or lyrical ballad 
"East of Evesham," "Fragile Lives" and "Nocturne."
Among the instrumentalists stand the sensitivity of Pickett harmonic and tonal refinement of the two 
tone brass.
 

Uno dei caratteri distintivi della musica prodotta dalla Slam Productionsdel sassofonista baritono 
inglese George Haslamè la libertà, e questa non sarebbe tale se sul suo catalogo, raramente, 
in verità, non ci fossero produzioni mainstream. Prendiamo ad esempio questi recentiLyric Pieces 
firmati da un quintetto messo insieme dal trio inglese guidato dal pianista Martin Pickett più i 
connazionali Steve Waterman alla tromba ed Mark Bassey al trombone. Si tratta di un quintetto che 
rappresenta al meglio il jazz fatto oltremanica, un mainstream ben assemblato su composizioni 
originali del pianista. Si affrontano una serie di situazioni molto diverse l´une dall´altra, 
ad esempio la batteria dal ritmo fusion diDefeat the Machine, a situazioni più tradizionaliste 
come To the Max, in cui come sempre il trombettista Steve Waterman ha occasione di sfornare degli 
assoli che sono piccoli gioielli di coerenza. L`altro fiato è il trombonista Mark Bassey, che con 
la sua voce rauca dà la sua impronta, inconfondibile, ai brani. Bella la ballad diEast of Evesham, 
dove prende il primo assolo, in cui la "raucedine" dà un senso di malinconia, e ci riporta, come 
Roswell Rudd, ai trombonisti dell´era pre-bop. A completare il gruppo ci sonoPaul Jefferiesal 
contrabbasso eBen Twyfordalla batteria. Senza fare troppo sfoggio di virtuosismo sulla velocità 
di esecuzione i cinque riescono a tirar fuori l´essenza delle musica, comunicativi, lirici, capaci 
di trasmettere emozioni, senza momenti inutili. Ogni nota ha un suo senso preciso, il mix fra 
tecnica ed espressività è perfetto. Un buon album per documentarsi su quello che è il maistream 
inglese attuale. Vittorio Lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=4481
 
TRANSLATION
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the music produced by Slam Productions 
of English baritone saxophonist George Haslam is freedom, and this would not be such 
if its catalog, rarely, in truth, there were no mainstream productions.Take for example 
these recent Lyric Pieces signed by a quintet put together by English trio led by pianist 
Martin Pickett plus countrymen Steve Waterman on trumpet and Mark Bassey on trombone.
This is a quintet that represents the best that jazz overseas, a well-assembled mainstream 
of original compositions by the pianist.We face a number of situations very different from 
one another, for example the battery from the fusion of rhythmDefeat the Machine, in more 
traditional situations such asTo the Max, in which the trumpeter Steve Waterman as always has 
the opportunity to churn out the solos which are small jewels of consistency.The other one 
is the breath trombonist Mark Bassey, who with his hoarse voice gives his stamp, unmistakably, 
to the tracks. Beautiful ballad East of Evesham, where he takes the first solo, in which the 
"hoarseness" gives a sense of melancholy, and brings us back, as Roswell Rudd, trombone players 
to pre-bop era.Rounding out the group arePaul Jefferieson bass andBen Twyfordon drums. Without 
doing too much display of virtuosity on the execution speed of the five can bring out the 
essence of music, communication, lyrical, able to convey emotions without unnecessary moments.
Each note has a precise meaning, the mix between technique and expression is perfect.A good album 
to read up on what is the current English mainstream. Vittorio Lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=4481
 
 
MARTIN PICKETT GROUP With PAUL JEFFERIES/BEN TWYFORD/STEVE 
WATERMAN/MARK BASSEY - Lyric Pieces (Slam 286; UK) Martin Pickett - 
Piano, Steve Waterman - Trumpet and Flugelhorn, Mark Bassey - 
Trombone, Paul Jefferies - Double Bass, Ben Twyford - Drums. This new 
CD from pianist and composer Martin Pickett features a 5-piece band, 
including two of the finest brass improvisers in the UK. Augmenting 
the well-established trio of Martin on piano, Paul Jefferies on bass 
and Ben Twyford on drums (aka 3BPM), are Steve Waterman on trumpet 
and flugelhorn, and Mark Bassey on trombone. Together they navigate 
their way through Martin's challenging yet lyrical compositions to 
produce music with a directly emotional impact. Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery, November 2011

MARTIN PICKETT GROUP/ Lyric Pieces (Slam Productions)

Ce groupe dirigé par le pianiste britannique Martin Pickett est en fait le trio de jazz créatif 3BPM, 
augmenté de deux cuivres, soit le trompettiste Steve Waterman et le tromboniste Mark Bassey.
Huit pièces d'un jazz mélodique parfois feutré mais qui sait s'emballer ("East of Evesham", où
les cuivres brillent particulièrement). Agréable.

This group led by UK pianist Martin Pickett is actually creative jazz trio 3BPM augmented by two
horn players: trumpeter Steve Waterman and trombonist Mark Bassey. Eight pieces of melodic
jazz, in the softer range, though the music can grow excited ("East of Evesham," where the brass
players particularly shine). Enjoyable. François Couture

http://blog.monsieurdelire.com/2011/10/2011-10-17-szilard-mezei-trio-martin.html