reviews

Sunman

Reviewed by Shane Nichols (Australian Financial Review December 9th 2000)

Three years passed between Sydney based saxophonist Andrew Robson's debut trio album,Scrum (Rufus), and this follow-up. That's a significant time in a young career, and you'd expect to hear it accounted for by a player of Robson's calibre.

This new disc indeed captures the deepening maturity that has been evident in his live performances for some time. Robson doesn't mess around; his live work is hallmarked by seriousness. That's not to say he's ernest or dry. His playing is carefully measured out but emotionally direct, as if he's calmly, intently singing to you. Though there are a couple of fast tunes, in which he chordally peels the skin off with deadly technique and quickfire inventivness, most of these are slow tunes played on alto or close-miked soprano which create an enthrallingly intimate space. In contrast to the remote, indifferent production od the first album, Robson's fight into your ear.

He engages you and doesn't let go, though he is never hectoring. He knows what he wants to say and doesn't waste a note. He has arrived as an important player. The future's bright.