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Jonathan Crayford: Big Foot

Teaming up with ex-Trinity Roots percussionist Riki Gooch, Wellington- (and sometimes NY-) based Jonathan Crayford has assembled a laid-back, at times very interesting album with ‘Big Foot’. Crayford and friends have recently been in residency at Cuba Street’s Havana Bar, and you can just imagine chilling to these warm, inviting songs in such a location. Guests on the album include Lisa tomlins and Emma Paki, and it is indeed the vocal tracks that stand out, with Can You Hear The Birds (featuring Tomlin) a particularly strong example of everything perfectly falling into place. Mention must also be made of Paki’s effort on Jewel City (a track she co-wrote) – it’s been a long time since we heard her beautifully fragile tones, and in this case they radiate all over the song wonderfully. It is the instrumental tracks that show a slight weakness, there is a tendency at times for Crayford to be a little ‘noodly’ and meandering with his Hammond and Rhodes – which is a shame as the best moments shine. The spoken interludes, while funny at first, also wear thin quickly. Certainly an intriguing, if rather unfulfilling release.

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