Clement Regert’s Wild Card return with the splendid Beast From The East. The regular trio of Regert (guitar), Andrew Noble (organ) and Sophie Alloway (drums) are joined by a formidable line-up, including regular contributors, such as Graeme Flowers (trumpet), Denys Baptiste (saxophone) and Adam Glasser (harmonica), plus a host of special guests, including Tim Garland and Duncan Eagle (saxophone) and vocalists Emilia Martensson (Kairos 4tet) and Imaani (Incognito) - to name but a few.
The band’s previous album, Life Stories, was very well-received, but Regert has upped his game once again here. The horn arrangements, in particular, are outstanding, and the album was effectively recorded ‘live’ in the studio, so it comes close to capturing the band’s explosive live performances. The addition of percussionists Joao Caetano (Incognito) and Will Fry (Roy Ayers) also help to beef up the band’s sound.
The album opens with a funky read of Steve Kuhn’s delightful Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers, featuring lyrics by Viktoria Tolstoy, and vocals by Emilia Martensson. There’s a fine solo by Duncan Eagles, who impresses, as always, and support from Rosie Turton on trombone.
The title track is my favourite. It’s built on a delightful saxophone riff, courtesy of Tim Garland, and a delicious groove from Sophie Alloway. The band’s superb horn section is joined by Barnaby Dickinson on trombone on this occasion, who also delivers a smouldering solo - underpinned by Regert’s funky guitar - before Flowers and Baptiste deliver a robust response. Funky as hell!
Take a listen to Beast From The East here:
Tales From Hanoi, despite the name, has more of a Latin groove, with Joao Caetano featured on percussion. There’s a tasty organ solo from Andrew Noble, too, who sounds more prominent than on the previous album - which can’t be bad!
Black Tower, in memory of the Grenfell tragedy starts in more sombre fashion, before building to a more funky finale, with some impressive work by Sophie Alloway on the drums.
Do It Like A Girl features some gorgeous playing by Adam Glasser, who’s lovely tone highlights the pretty melody, courtesy of band leader Regert. The guitarist also takes a solo of his own, underpinned by some excellent organ work by Noble, and Jim Knight joins on alto.
Doctor K has long been part of the band’s live set, and is dedicated to Regert’s partner. Asparagus Partner II is more upbeat, with percussion from Will Fry, and some furious, angular guitar from Regert - before Jim Knight responds with a fiery solo of his own. The title is an in-band joke, stemming from Regert’s once confusing Asperger’s with Asparagus!
The Struggle didn’t work so well for me. It’s a great tune, but too often the lyrics felt crammed in to the tune, in my view. A pity, because Imaani’s singing is powerful, and the music is fantastic, and there’s some fine interplay amongst the musicians, and a great solo by Tim Garland on tenor.
A Wild Card album would not be complete without a slightly outrageous cover, and Regert does not disappoint! There’s a ska version of Papa Was a Rolling Stone, complete with a trombone solo, courtesy of Alistair White. It shouldn’t work. But yes, it does!
Wild Card’s best album yet.
