Emil Viklicky / Imogen Ryall: Songs

In addition to being highly regarded as a classical composer, Czech pianist and composer Emil Viklicky has been a significant presence on the international jazz scene for over 50 years. His jazz compositions, often influenced by Moravian folk songs, have seen him perform and record in the company of such significant artists as Bobby Wellins, Bill Frisell, Wynton Marsalis, Billy Hart, Herbie Hancock and fellow countryman Miroslav Vitous. He composed all the music on Songs, with the exception of one piece.

English singer and lyricist Imogen Ryall came to attention with her previous release Sings The Charles Mingus / Joni Mitchell Songbook (reviewed here). On Songs she finds new inspiration, neatly pairing her lyrics with Viklický's music to evoke an expressive mix of moods, stories and states of mind. They are joined by saxophonist Julian Nicholas, who in addition to playing on Ryall's last album also introduced her to Viklický, with whom he has a long recording history. They are joined by drummer Eric Ford, who also played on the previous album and bassist Petr Dvorský.

Album opener "Not Yet!" is one of four tunes featured here that originally appeared on Viklický and Nicholas' album Food of Love (Symbol, 1995). Starting with an almost show tune feel, the track quickly moves off in unexpected directions as Nicholas roams around the melody. "Portcawl Fair" is another track with similar lineage. Ryall's lyrics excellently portray the excitement of someone about to descend on a rollercoaster but leave ambiguity about what the real intention is. The track is enhanced by Dvorský's solo and Viklický's economy.

Ryall's voice demands attention with her well-honed talent for delivering a narrative coming to the fore in "Gone With Water." Viklický builds a lightly skipping folk style introduction, but the track darkens with undulating rhythms before Nicholas's tasteful sax solo leads to Dvorský's well matched bass. The solos integrate into the narrative and there is no sensation of this being a lead singer with musical backing. The songs are a true collaboration with Ryall as part of a band and there is a depth and meaning to many of the lyrics that marks her out from many of her contemporaries.

Other standouts include "Dawn Devayne," named after a character in Ordo, a crime fiction short story by Donald Westgate and the gentle regret of "Moon Sleeping in a Cradle," in which Nicholas's sax flies alongside Ryall's beautiful intonation and Ford's thoughtful constraint. Whilst the narrative songs capture attention, there is also a good helping of songs covering the more familiar territory of lost love and fading relationships, particularly on "Aspen," with terrific soprano sax mixed with fine work from Ford.

Viklický is masterly throughout and his accomplished themes and elegant melodies are the perfect vehicle for Ryall's creative lyrics and splendid vocal delivery. The piano and sax combinations, honed over 30 years of collaboration, are sensitive and inspired. Dvorský and Ford show a mix of rhythmic drive and appropriate restraint when needed, making this a contemporary quintet album that consistently hits the mark.

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