“This well-balanced and finely integrated quintet speaks bebop fluently….their cohesion and familiarity with some clean, unfussy and elegant arrangements is remarkable” – Jazz Journal
In 2015 Glen Manby was awarded an Arts Council of Wales Project Grant to compose, arrange and record a new repertoire with his recently-formed quintet. It was recorded with Steve Waterman,Leon Greening and Matt Home (we have Joe Dessaeur for our gig) with Adam King on bass (we have Jeremy Brown for our gig). The resulting CD, “Homecoming”, is available on the Mainstem jazz label, but we will have the great pleasure of hearing it live.
Here is part of a review of the CD by Dave Gelly of the Observer, headed “Glen Manby Quintet: Homecoming review – stylish hard bop ****”
“Jazz is constantly throwing up new genres and forms, but hard bop continues to outlive them all. Perhaps because it is technically demanding, it seems to attract more than its fair share of talented musicians too. Alto saxophonist Glen Manby is a case in point. Fully at home in the idiom, with a polished technique and mature tone, he’s an eloquent player. Normally based in Cardiff, he appears here with four of Britain’s A-team: trumpeter Steve Waterman, pianist Leon Greening, bassist Adam King and drummer Matt Home. Most of the tunes are Manby originals, plus pieces by Wayne Shorter, Quincy Jones et al. All round, it’s a stylish session, with a good variety of mood and tempo.”
” Hard bop lives and is in no better hands than the Glen Manby Quintet” – London Jazz News
“…this is British jazz at its best” – The Jazz Rag
