Album Review: The Jo Fabro Quintet - JFQ

The debut album from jazz outfit The Jo Fabro Quintet begins the way you might expect – polished, polite, full of rhythm changes and instrumental solos from highly talented musicians. Overall, a pretty relaxing, vocal-based jazz sound. But as soon as the second track, Lover's Lament, kicks in with its percussion, Latin edge and bouncing rhythms, the five-piece begin to exceed expectations.

The band are brilliant with call-and-response, flying back and forth between measured yet expressive piano and bass solos. The cityscape ballad Matthew's Theme is sultry – built up around some gorgeous plucked double bass with smatterings of piano and gentle vocals. On a record so adapt at bending genres, this track seems to epitomise the style most suited to the suave quintet.

In terms of vocals and songwriting, Fabro sometimes falls short. Her melodies are overconfident and most tracks are set in an uncomfortable, low register with high notes occasionally nasal or strained (see the nostalgic Full Circle). But the scatting on Step Aside is great, and on the tongue-in-cheek Roadside Assistance (featuring Steve Hunter) she pulls off that jazzy dissonance with ease. In fact, it's the most exciting track, bouncing forward with a bit of attitude, a classic swing to the drum fills and another amazing bass solo.

The second half of the album introduces some creative song titles, like the straight soulful blues track MMMMMMM that comes complete with rockabilly guitar. The great thing about this album is that it doesn't surrender and lay down in front of you; rather it demands a bit of work from the listener and is rewarding if you're willing to put the effort in.