Q3
Reviews
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"Alongside the top-notch musicianship from the quartet, Hallmark's engaging compositions share the spotlight"
AllAboutJazz
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"“Water Speckled Midnight” represents an impressive statement from Q3.... rich in terms of colour, detail, texture and dynamics....the standard of the playing is excellent throughout"
Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann
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"The Cambridge-based quartet in its 3d album stays on track to make beautiful and enticing music. It’s all about smooth yet sophisticated melodies, perfect chemistry, involving improvisations, rich in character and texture. A must!"
Christos Valtadoros, Jazzismus
"An album that is impressionistic and sophisticated"
Debbie Burke, Jazz Author
"File this album under a good listen"
Jazz Views
"Combining virtuosic playing with adventurous compositions and sensitive ensemble work"
Tom O'Grady, Resolution 88
"Strong melodies and fine solos....a set that provides fun in abundance"
Nick Lea, Jazzviews
"Played deftly with passion as well as eyebrow raising virtuosity from these gifted, empathetic musicians"
Nigel Price
"Not unenjoyable"
Jazzwise
Reviews for Water Speckled Midnight
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All About Jazz
It is apparent that that these compositions use time and space to excellent effect, allowing the melody to weave around unhurried solos and combinations. The light funk of "Nomads" is a good example as saxophone and piano follow individual lines before coming together. Coimbra builds a sublime flamenco-style bass break; Hallmark's improvisation is open and fluid before Flanagan takes over with a Michael Brecker-like solo.
Alongside the top-notch musicianship from the quartet, Hallmark's engaging compositions share the spotlight. Like a good TV boxed-set, they keep your attention throughout. Tight rhythms and well-executed solos support the melodic and accessible tunes, making the overall result highly listenable.
* * * * The Jazz Mann
“Water Speckled Midnight” represents an impressive statement from Q3. Hallmark’s compositions are unfailingly melodic but they also feature a variety of musical styles and are rich in terms of colour, detail, texture and dynamics. The standard of the playing is excellent throughout and the band are well served by the studio team headed by John Ward, who deliver a crystalline mix that fully brings out the subtleties and nuances of both the writing and the playing.
There may be some listeners who will find it all a bit too smooth, but there will be many more who will enjoy Q3’s brand of contemporary melodic jazz, music that borrows from the tradition, but which never gets subsumed by it. Hallmark’s compositions are informed by his own experiences and sound all the better for it.
I also have to say that I was also very impressed with Flanagan, a fluent tenor sax soloist who has channelled the acknowledged influences of Michael Brecker and Sonny Rollins into a very convincing style of his own. I thought I detected something of Dexter Gordon and Coleman Hawkins in his playing too. In any event he’s a musician that I would like to hear more of.
I suspect that Q3 also represent an excellent live attraction. Readers in their main catchment area of East Anglia and South East England are encouraged to check them out.
George Cole, Jazz Views
File this album under a good listen. Flanagan is an impressive player, with superb tone and feeling. The CD is well packaged, in a glossy, double fold-out digipak and a stunning cover design composed of swirling leaves (replicated on the disc label) by Jules Harley.
‘Nomads’ is a jazz-funk tune and my favourite, with Flanagan channelling his Michael Brecker mode and Coimbra starting off an exciting bass solo with flamenco-like flourishes. There’s a neat transition after the bass solo, whereby Hallmark’s piano solo seamlessly switches to a ballad section before the tempo is turned up again.
Debbie Burke, Jazz Author
The new CD from Martin Hallmark’s Q3 called Water Speckled Midnight
is as evocative as the title. Hallmark’s quartet breathes easily together…the music gels in a satisfying and comforting way. Pretty like a painting with pockets of space to breathe, notes and chord changes chosen
so naturally. Overall, an album that is impressionistic and sophisticated.
Tom O'Grady, Resolution 88
Water Speckled Midnight
follows on from where Q3's The Monkey Puzzle Tree left off, combining virtuosic playing with adventurous compositions and sensitive ensemble work. Martin Hallmark's lithe playing on the beautifully recorded Fazioli is a joy to listen to along with Kevin Flanagan's superlative sax work. Tiago Coimbra effortlessly switches between instinctive rhythm playing and impressive solo features, whilst Oscar Reynolds summons a spectrum of colours with his cymbal work and plays with conviction and intention without ever overpowering the other players. Particular highlights are the insistent, Corea-inspired "Odyssey", the Shorter-esque "Emerald Eyes", the groovy "Nomads" which also gives each band member plenty of room to shine, the bittersweet "Rondo di Girulata" and the wistful changes harmonising the melody of "Nocturne". Highly recommended for all fans of modern jazz, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter and Robert Glasper!
Nigel Price, award-winning guitarist
Water Speckled Midnight, the latest release from Martin Hallmark is an engaging collection of intimate and personal pieces by the accomplished UK pianist. The empathy and interplay within the band comes right through the speakers, and everyone is given all the space they need to shine. The material is varied but all the tracks, be they funk, samba, ballad, odd meter grooves, all sit together really well.
The music is played with a kind of unhurried intensity, resulting in a chilled yet simultaneously compelling album. All in all, a good listen and a great way to spend an hour!
The Monkey Puzzle Tree
This is an extremely quirky album from Q3 and a welcome follow up to Spider Dance. Firmly rooted in more of a jazz funk tradition than straight ahead jazz there are enough strong melodies and fine solos to satisfy the most demanding die-hard jazzer.
Driven by tight grooves and strong rhythmic lines from bass and drums, but both saxophone and piano are adept at circumnavigating the taut rhythmic structures to produce solos that release the metronomic tension to create a dramatic and equally focused element to proceedings.
Kevin Flanagan is heard to fine effect on the wonderfully titled, 'Fake Blues', with a dynamic and free flowing solo, that is once again followed by an equally compelling offering from the pianist.
Martin Hallmark must take much credit for the success of the album as not only does he provide all but one of the compositions but is also the main catalyst between the horn and propulsive, driving beat from bass and drums. He skillfully weaves an accompaniment....his piano introduction on 'Tarka And The Mount' is totally absorbing.
.This is a set that provides fun in abundance.... generating this sort of excitement in the studio is one thing, and I'm sure that this band blow a storm when heard live.
- Nick Lea, Jazz Views album reviews
Extract from jazzviews.net
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Martin Hallmark – pianist and composer, leads this tight unit, comprised of master multi saxophonist Kevin Flanagan, super groovy Tiago Coimbra on 5 string electric bass and snappy, funky drummer Steve Hynes. The album of instantly accessible, mostly funk/fusion original compositions is recorded in crystal clear quality and played deftly with passion as well as eyebrow raising virtuosity from these gifted, empathetic musicians.
There are moments of beauty too, especially on the waltz – ‘Tarka and the Mount’.
A fine body of work from a great band.
- Nigel Price, award-winning guitarist, March 2019
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Wonderful album, you must treat yourself to this. The album is just excellent, nine superb tracks......very nice the whole thing.
- Steve Hart, Cool Nights Jazz Show
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Q3's new album "The Monkey Puzzle Tree" is an exciting collection of original compositions, channelling influences such as Chick Corea and Robert Glasper. The songs combine beautiful changes with contemporary grooves and there are some lovely complements such as the bass clarinet in "Sighting the Tiger" and the Rhodes in "Equipoise II". The songs are intricately crafted without ever sounding obviously complex - in the composer's words "Don't Think Too Hard About It" - just listen and enjoy it!
- Tom O'Grady, Resolution 88
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**** - Jazz Music Archives
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Martin Hallmark's jazz trio, the enigmatically named Q3, are relatively new and a breath of fresh air, as they steer clear of familiar jazz standards and 'Real Book' war horses in favour of largely original material. As pianist leader Martin also composes much of the new tunes and changes, this music has an urgency and intelligence that demands close listening. Having recently studied with top US pianist Chick Corea, he's not afraid to break loose and play 'outside' or funky, either. Ably supported by Berklee trained, nimble fingered local electric bass hero Tiago Coimbra and top drummer Steve Hynes there will be lots of virtuosity on display, backed up by some excellent content.
- David Ellingham, Local Secrets
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Q3
Spider Dance
Lenox Music | ***
Led by piano / keys man Martin Hallmark, Q3 is a breezy UK-based fusion trio taking their cue from Chick Corea, Bob James through to Hiromi (the bass player Tiago Coimbra used to be her sideman).
- Jazzwise magazine, shortcuts new releases review
