reviews

Way Back. The World According to James (Vitamin). 9 stars:

Review by Shane Nichols

Review appeared in After Hours, Australian Financial Review, Friday 9th May 2003

Sydney trombonist James Greening is a world recognised player, having won acclaim overseas for his previous work, especially the Rufus label album before this new one. For Way Back he has expanded his group - which normally enjoys the exceptional talents of alto saxophonist Andrew Robson, drummer Toby Hall and Steve Elphick on bass - to include the grand vizier of all styles, Jackie Orszaczky (piccolo bass and vocals) and Mathew Doyle on didgeridoo. The writing credits have been shared around and reflect the group's innate sense of diversity; this is an attitude as much as a musical organisation, one that values humility as well as ambition, humour as much as seriousness. For all the sophistication of this music, its expression springs from a bucolic earthiness and lack of pretence. It might be the world according to James but his colleagues share that vision.