SLIDE ALBATROSS – SLIDE ALBATROSS
Local group Slide Albatross’ formation is a chance story that many musicians can relate to- where the unknown members arrive at a gig only to realise they have no repertoire so they completely wing the gig with improvisation and upon doing so they also discover that they’ve got great chemistry. That story is how this trio sewed the seeds for the group and eventually, this release. The result is an intricate journey through jazz and folk, where Berlach’s tenor sax soars, ducks and weaves through De Vries guitar arpeggios all the while Masso’s drum work lays down the groove foundation to prevent the tracks from getting too carried away into free form flight and maintaining the emotive folk aspect to their sound. The mood of the album lies very much in the lazy haze that characterises Coltrane’s ‘Love Supreme’. Not to say however, that Slide Albatross lies in the shadow of that particular great work, as the group insert their own quirks and feeling into the sound. Slide Albatross really have a good thing going and it’s an album that is engaging enough to swallow your attention as much as it’s one that lets you kick back and wander off into the dream they’ve created.
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