Empirical burst onto the international music scene at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival, beating four other bands to win the inaugural European Jazz Competition. Two days later, with perfect timing, their self-titled debut album hit the shops. British saxophonist Courtney Pine had been keeping a keen eye on the quintet’s progress and produced the CD, which is released on his own Destin-E records.

It’s a startlingly mature set for such a young group, undoubtedly as a result of time spent playing together in Tomorrow’s Warriors, a development programme which has seen the likes of Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch and Tony Kofi pass through its ranks over the years. All of these have become established names on the UK jazz scene and Empirical look set to follow their lead.

The opening track, “Blessings”, is a crisp, quick, swinging post-bop melody penned by saxist Nathaniel Facey. The composer moves into the limelight, taking the first solo with a pleasing dexterity, and is flawlessly overlapped by Jay Phelps on trumpet. It’s clear from the start that a near-telepathic understanding exists within the group and this gently whets the listener’s appetite for what is to come.

A strong African influence is present on a couple of tunes: Ali Farka Touré’s “Tulumba” is delightfully arranged by Phelps, with a meditative overdubbed opening passage taking off into a whirling frenzy of collective improvisation. It’s a shame this track was cut to less than four minutes, as it fades away into nothingness just as pianist Kit Downes is setting out his ideas. The first few seconds of “The Deep” recall the opening of A Love Supreme as Facey’s wailing sax borrows a touch of Coltrane phrasing. However, this ten-minute offering moves into other directions as a spiritual chant begins and extended solos follow. Chanting then returns at the end, apparently depicting the emptiness of deep, unexplored regions of the ocean.

Drummer Shaney Forbes displays a loose affiliation to hip-hop in the album’s longest track, “Palantir”, which clocks in at nearly 17 minutes. During movements of this composition and on the tracks “Clapton Willow”, “Kite” and “Dark Lady”, Empirical demonstrate their aptitude for intimate, more sensitive moods – as opposed to freewheeling, dynamic and fast-paced jams.

This is a highly promising release from a band which can only go from strength to strength. All tracks bar “Tulumba” are originals, with a multitude of influences and fresh, excitable energy in abundance. Watch this space.

Track listing: Blessings; Tulumba; A Tyrant's Tale; Clapton Willow; The Deep; Kite; Fat Cat; Palantir; Dark Lady (Bonus Track).

Personnel: Nathaniel Facey: alto saxophone, voice; Jay Phelps: trumpet, voice; Kit Downes: piano; Neil Charles: bass; Shaney Forbes: drums, percussion.

Published @ allaboutjazz, 19/9/07 - click here for original.