Dave Hamblett

Light at Night, Whirlwind ****

The UK jazz scene is experiencing a purple patch, at least in terms of creativity, and the vitality of the new generation is amply proved by drummer Dave Hamblett's debut recording. Hamblett, just recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, is already receiving calls from players such as Phronesis pianist Ivo Neame. For his own group the drummer has recruited some of the brightest young things of the London scene, including Neame on piano and Rhodes; saxophonists Josh Arcoleo and Joe Wright; guitarist Alex Munk; and bassist Callum Gourlay. Hamblett's original compositions inhabit a warmly ambiguous harmonic space, and his arrangements for the sextet make excellent use of the two-horns-two-chords line- up, creating a layered ensemble texture that sets up some fine solos from Neame, Arcoleo and Munk. davehamblett.com