Ian Chaplin Quartet - Tjapangati (Jazzhead)
Ian Chaplin (alto + sopranos saxophones)
Mark Fitzgibbon (piano)
Sam Keevers (piano on two tracks)
Philip Rex (drums)
Scott Lambie (drums)
1. The Business End; 2. What's Up; 3. But Wait There's More; 4. Vespa; 5. Mingus' Sound Of Love; 6. Jazz Elevator; 7.Off You Go; 8. Tjapangati; 9. Ben Hall; 10. Soul Sphere; 11. Hand Mower.
This 1996 album was one of the early releases by Melbourne label Jazzhead.
At the time of its release it seems like I played once a day - or more - for months on end, so much so that I kind of wore it out.
Apart from the odd tune on my radio show, it's probably years since I gave it a serious listen - as I have been doing this week.
And once again I'm gobsmacked by how good it is.
At the time it was made, Chaplin was already very much a young veteran of the Australian scene, and there was a general feeling his debut album was long overdue.
This is straightahead, fabulous, soulful hard bop -yet, as is the way with so many fine Australian albums, sounds quite different from US recordings that could be slung under the same banner.
Chaplin has keening, instense sound - Bobby Watson and Jackie McLean are two valid comparisons, in terms of sound rather than style - while Chaplin pays tribute to George Coleman and Dewey Redman in the notes.
In a broader sense, most of the super tunes evince a funkiness closer to Cannonball - albeit leaner, meaner and more moody.
Tjapangati is, IMHO, a classic.
Chaplin, Fitzgibbon, Keevers and Rex are all still busy in Melbourne, while the last I heard Lambie was hooning around Italy.
The same crew - with trumpeter Scott Tinkler replacing Fitzgibbon - recorded and released The Future In Today on the same label a year or so later with remarkably different results. Much more of an Ornettish thing going on there.
http://www.jazzhead.com/chaplin/tjap.html
Ian Chaplin Quartet - Tjapangati
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