
Vertigo. “. . . a beautiful album.” – Something Else
“Vertigo is a beautiful album; Julian Costello uses high calibre musicians and adds his virtuoso lines on tenor and soprano saxophones.” – Something Else
“Costello has his own strong and distinctive musical personality allied to a creative imagination.” – UK Jazz News
“. . . it’s Rozario’s deep, rich bowing followed by a pizzicato passage that establishes the airy groove.” – The JazzMann
“Alloway’s drum intro is pure genius and sets the music up perfectly for what is to follow.” – JazzViews
“. . . an excellent display of controlled dynamics and the intelligent use of guitar technology.” – The JazzMann
Saxophonist Julian Costello’s latest group, Vertigo, combines contemporary jazz with world music, seamlessly blending the two, also adding elements from swing and Latin, to popular music.
Citing John Coltrane Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, John Surman, and Jan Garbarek as his major influences, Julian started playing the drums in rock bands in his early teens. Then he heard Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix and was smitten. The music was full of expression, colour, energy, and passion for him.
A musician with a good ear for melody, Julian’s compositions are rich in harmonic, textural, and rhythmic ideas, giving his chosen musicians plenty of stimulating material to work with. However, his penchant for melody remains.
Space is integral to the music, and Natalie Rozario’s wonderful cello playing, oudist/guitarist Stefanos Tsourelis’ ability to colour and shade the music, and drummer Sophie Alloway’s combination of rhythmic propulsion with effective use of toms and cymbals, bring a new backdrop that seemingly allows Julian to pace and phrase his solos in a new light.
As well as performing original material from their acclaimed eponymous debut album, Vertigo there will be a smattering of standards, plus songs by artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day – and even Julian’s very early inspiration, Jimi Hendrix!
Julian Costello (Saxophones) Natalie Rozario (Cello/Vocals) Stefanos Tsourelis (Oud/Guitar) Sophie Alloway (Drums)
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