Rob Luft review: An original guitarist to be prized

UK guitarist Rob Luft – winner of the prestigious Kenny Wheeler prize and runner-up at the Montreux Jazz Guitar competition – is setting out on his career with a fair wind at his back.

The 23-year-old Londoner’s aptly titled debut – a release on Edition records is folded into the Wheeler prize – reveals a singular talent, a fluent improviser and a composer of catchy, earthy, infectiously upbeat tunes.

There are echoes of west African high-life, English folk, indie rock and various strands of contemporary jazz, but Luft's sound is joyously original, robust and in-your-face, played here with the confidence of youth by a group that includes several other risers of the UK scene, including fresh-sounding saxophonist Joe Wright and the always inventive Corrie Dick on drums.

[ editionrecords.com ]