Alison Rayner Quintet
Short Stories
2019 - Blow the Fuse Records: BTF1914CD / BTF1914V (LP)
https://www.blowthefuse.com/albums/short-stories/
https://arqmusic1./album/short-stories
https://www.alisonrayner.com/albums/short-stories/

* Alison Rayner     : double bass
* Buster Birch      : drums, percussion
* Deirdre Cartwright: guitar
* Diane McLoughlin  : tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
* Steve Lodder      : piano

https://www.alisonrayner.com/
https://www.busterbirch.co.uk/
https://www.deirdrecartwright.com/
https://www.thecasimirconnection.com/
https://www.stevelodder.com/

Recorded by Chris Lewis in Livingston Studio 1, London,
England, in 2019. Studio assistant Marcus Locock.

Reviews
~~~~~~~

By Dave Gelly
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/nov/30/alison-rayner-quintet-short-stories-review-blow-the-fuse
I think I could spot a piece by Alison Rayner among a mixed bag of contemporary
British jazz composer, not by any mannerisms of style, but because her whole
approach is so brisk and clear. This is certainly true of the music played by
her quintet. The band have been together for about five years now, a long time
for the hectic London scene, and have developed their own recognisable
personality. This is their third, and aptly titled, album.

The eight musical short stories – five by Rayner and one each by saxophonist
Diane McLoughlin, guitarist Deirdre Cartwright and pianist Steve Lodder – all
concern memories of people or places. A few brief lines in the album notes set
the scene, and each sound-picture is brought deftly to life. Two I particularly
admired were A Braw Boy, suggesting the open sea and big skies, featuring piano
and soprano saxophone, and Croajingolong Bushwalk, with some neat percussion
from Buster Birch. Alison Rayner is the band’s bassist, and for some reason
bass-playing jazz composers (Charles Mingus and Charlie Haden, for instance)
seem particularly good at conjuring scenes and atmospheres.

--

By Chris May
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/short-stories-alison-rayner-quintet-blow-the-fuse

By Sammy Stein
https://somethingelsereviews.com/2019/11/08/arq-short-stories/

By Leonard Weinreich
https://londonjazznews.com/2019/12/06/__trashed-3/

By Bruce Lindsay
https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/12/06/alison-rayner-quintet-short-stories/

By Ian Mann
https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/alison-rayner-quintet-short-stories/