Get the Blessing

OC DCNaim Jazz ****

The UK jazz scene is increasingly fed by the flood waters of British rock, and arty Bristol quartet Get the Blessing are in it up to their necks. The line-up of saxophone, trumpet, bass and drums may be inspired by Ornette Coleman, but the band's sound owes more to punk, Afro- Beat and trip-hop than free jazz. Bassist Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer (better known as the rhythm section for trip-hop pioneers Portishead) drive the band along from the back seat with muscular electric bass lines and intricate, dance-flavoured grooves. Over them, the horns blare out ambient jazz, spaghetti western atmospherics and 1960s cop show themes, with extra layers added by Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley and legendary Soft Machine singer Robert Wyatt. Get the Blessing's debut album, All Is Yes, managed to refresh the parts that jazz albums rarely reach, and with its catchy melodies and laid-back grooves, OC DC looks set to follow suit. theblessing.co.uk