Nic France
Drums and Percussion

Reviews

Jazzwise Magazine, Issue 89 August 2005

Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)

“Despite the well-established pedigree of the personnel, this album seems out of nowhere: a carefully crafted love letter to the American jazz that flowered so gorgeously in the ‘70s, written and read by English sensibilities of the here and now. Think various incarnations of Weather Report, think Herbie; but also think South London and Perfect Houseplants, and think the Johns Surman and Marshall.

It’s some feat to pull this off, both in terms of musicianship and self-conviction, but there’s not a dead patch on the CD.

Credit Patrick Wood, the project’s composer-arranger: he has created the simultaneous loose-tight musical situations that allow his associates to stretch out and reach new heights while keeping them grounded.

The album is so dependent on teamwork that it’s invidious to single out any contributor, but this kind of music is critically dependent on pulse and Nic France’s drumming really floats the boat.

The nine tracks come in various shapes and sizes, and the whole thing’s a fresh, passionate delight from start to finish”.

Brian Glasser (critic and author of the biography of Joe Zawinul; ‘In a Silent Way: A Portrait of Joe Zawinul’).

Jazz On 3; BBC Radio 3, July 1st 2005

In their occasional CD Round-Up feature, Jazz On 3 were able to play just four “choice nuggets” from amongst “a whole heap of good stuff” that had been released over the past month. This put the Works up in the company of three of the world’s greatest living jazz musicians:

“…new music from Joe Lovano, a new 70’s flavoured U.K. fusion band called the Works; and from two of the guys who undoubtedly influenced them - Joe Zawinul… and Wayne Shorter…

…Oh yeah! Don’t you just LOVE well played fusion – once its in your blood you’ll never get it out! First up it was the maestro himself Joe Zawinul, and then - did you hear the join? - a new U.K. band called ‘the Works’ and the title track from their album ‘Beware of the Dog’: REALLY like that…” Jez Nelson (BBC TV and Radio Presenter, founder of Somethin’ Else Productions).