REVIEW: Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller - Jazz On The Corner Two

REVIEW: Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller – Jazz On The Corner Two

What might be most surprising about the latest compilation by Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller, simply titled Jazz On The Corner Two released via Acid Jazz records, is the couple aren’t adoring the cover in the same coloured trousers. What won’t be surprising is the first-class choice of music on show. Freeman confessing to be a childhood music collecting prodigy with older siblings guiding his mind, heart and ears to more grown up tunes which bettered the likes of Rentaghost that might have shone from the TV’s screens of his home. Piller being the young mod whose Mother was The Small Faces secretary, no doubt had an advantage in the soul ranks what with The Small Faces covering the likes of Shake and having an infinity with being great white soul singers, the backgrounds to each individuals sets the scene for what is on the vinyl.

Opening with Stanley Turrentine The Magilla, this horn sodden track stutters and passes by like a freight train cruising with ease to it destination. Nine Simone I’m Gonna Leave You is without doubt an absolute classic, almost on a northern soul tip a dynamite dancefloor filler if there was ever one. Les McCann does the decent thing and gets deep and dirty funky with Us coming straight out of a 70’s cop show, it could well be a chase scene, opening titles or closing titles to a great lost series, Freeman and Piller: The Police Agenda. The pace slows down slightly for Horace Silver and his Tranquilizer Suite part 4, a 6-minute episode of dainty grand piano, trumpet solos and more delicious horn section overloads. 

Hammond Organ extraordinaire Brian Augers Oblivion Express gets his foot firmly in the doors with his Freedom Jazz Dance, his B3 doing the leg work as the Oblivion Express send shock waves across the speakers. Further delights include Charles Earland who fortunately before Leaving This Planet delivered an Hammond organ treat for his already drooling fans, Jonny Mercer’s smooth charming vocals can be heard above his superb backing band on The Old Black Magic, whilst the closing bars of Haw Right Now by Patrice Rushen draw the curtains of this fascinating 24 track maze of tunes to a close. With this being the duo’s third release of its kind, the duo’s record relationship is a welcome fit in today’s record market, Freeman and Piller certainly know a good tune when they hear it. 

Jazz On The Corner Two is available via the following link