A month or so back, my Facebook and Twitter feed was suddenly flooded by images – which turned out to be great work as per usual from Dean Chalkley – of the actor Martin Freeman and label boss of Acid Jazz records Eddie Piller seen on the cover of a new compilation called ‘Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller Present Jazz on the Corner’

Now, I had had the heads up on this recording a good while ago, and knew they were going deep and hard in getting clearances on the tunes. Knowing both gentlemen concerned pretty well I just knew that they were going to turn up some nuggets.

Both these gentleman know their tuneage. Eddie teamed up with DJ Gilles Peterson to form Acid Jazz Records in 1987. The whole enterprise had the Mod ethos running through it of constantly moving forward and many well-known musicians got their start at the label, Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Mother Earth, Galliano and Corduroy among them.

Ed is also a world renowned DJ of some note and pops up on decks all over the globe as well doing his regular show on Soho Radio.

I first properly talked to Martin many years ago when he was then known mainly for his work as ‘Tim’ in ‘The Office’. We were DJIng in the club The Social for a night now long forgotten, but it was obvious he knew his sounds and told me he had been DJing for many years.

We talked all things Mod and jazz and he broke my headphones. I have hardly mentioned to him since…..

Anyway, I picked up a promo of the album recently and what a delight it is. First of all, as a real jazz head, it is lovely to see that genre in all its ‘colours’ getting a mainstream release AND picking up a load of radio interest in it into the bargain.

The chaps have come up with a very varied selection, which includes many tunes I don’t know and for me that is always an added bonus. Discovering quality ‘new’ sounds, to my old ears anyway, is simply never a bad thing.

If I may, I would like to pick out a few of my faves from each side. Side one is from Martin. We are eased into his ‘picks’ by the one and only Mose Allison.  His classic vocal hits you from beginning to end and delivers a real head nodder into the bargain.

Art Blakey is then quickly out of the traps on the hard bop track ‘Kozo’s Waltz.’ I’m currently going through an addictive Lee Morgan phase, so particularly chuffed to have his angular track ‘Psychedelic’ making an appearance here.

That master of the Hammond, Jimmy Smith takes us on ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’ and we meet Blossom Dearie next up.

Great name, even better song.

Mr. Freeman’s side ends with Kamasi Washington and ‘The Rhythm Changes’. I saw Washington at The Barbican a year or two back, which was a marvelous occasion.  So I’m already a convert.

Only one word for this track. Euphoric.

Eddie opens his side with Geoffrey Stoner, which is a completely new one on me, but instantly puts me in mind of Jon Lucien, which is no bad thing. 

Track three ‘Chains’ by Blacks and Blues is a belter. Simple as. I heard Eddie mention on a radio thing that this is a demo he picked up somewhere and contains a drop of Gil Scott Heron in the background. Such a find this one.

Delighted to see Harold McNair get an airing here. I love the old ‘Flute and Nut’ of Harold and so should you.

Anyone who has dipped a toe in the jazz world knows it can be a tricky beast at first. I once heard the later ‘free’ style of the genre described as sounding like a fire in a pet shop…Harsh that.

My guess is that a few of the people who will be buying this album are doing so because they are fans of Martin as opposed to jazz in general. The fact that they are going to be exposed to some fantastic music and hopefully to will set some on the path to want to discover more.

Add to that the fact that they also get exposed to Eugene McDaniels and ‘Cherrystones’ makes me smile. 

I think this a good thing.

In closing, I have to say the whole package is excellent. As mentioned up top, there are top photos from Mr. Chalkely and it is very nicely produced and delivered by Dean and Dom at the label.

I’m ready for volume two already!

The Mumper of SE5

‘Martin Freeman and Eddie Piller Present Jazz on the Corner’ full tracklisting & available to order here:

All Photography by Dean Chalkey