SECRET
Basho Records SRCD 3-2

Nikki Iles on piano, with Canadians Duncan Hopkins on bass and Anthony Michelli on drums.

The album came about as a result of the very successful UK tour of this group in 2000 and is a collaboration of work mainly composed by Martin, Nikki and Duncan. Another tou is being arranged for late autum 2002.

TRACKS ARE:
1. Secret Place - Iles 5:12
2. Veils - Iles 3:40
3. The Heron - Speake 6:46
4. Oncology - Hopkins 6:19
5. J.T.'s Symmetrical Scale - Speake 5:09
6. The Thrill Is Gone - Henderson (arranger Speake) 8:13
7. Westerly - Iles 5:31
8. Coventry - Hopkins 5:08
9. So To Speake - Iles 1:53
10. Fly's Dilemma - Iles 5:25
11. Nikki - Speake 5:14
12. Secret Wood - Speake 8:02
13. Willow (for Mick Hutton) - Speake 6:52
14. Luiza - Jobim 4:43

78:32 mins

REVIEWS

"Timing is everything in jazz, and not just during performances. As the quartet led by saxophonist Martin Speake and pianist Nikki Iles embarks on a long tour of the UK, it is in danger of being sidelined by a slew of starrier jazz acts with the same idea. But it will be an injustice if this responsive, resourceful and thematically original ensemble doesn't get the audiences it should.....This is jazz-jazz, not fusion, and there's no electronic enhancement, unless you count microphones. But it's acoustic quartet playing a very long way up the league". John Fordham, The Guardian 30th September 2000.

"Secret is an album of jazz of a very high order from a group that puts to shame many much-hyped American bands." Andrew Vine, Yorkshire Post 13th April 2002 "...such an assured, absorbing set of music that it compels the listener whatever the tempo.." Chris Sheridan, Jazz Review - April 2002

"..modest little gem of intelligent but highly approachable small-band music." Dave Gelly, The Observer March 2002

"Martin Speake plays some of the most gorgeous alto sax sounds in contemporary jazz…What is most impressive about the album is how four members of this brand new partnership are so finely attuned to each other's musical minds and nimble fingers." Phil Ehrensaft - The Whole Note, Canada, October 2002

" An album equally strong on melody and harmony, rhythmic intricacies and broadly phrased beautifully "breathing" passages…..spacious cross-rhythms and purposive drive, distilled reflection and cooking swing distinguish this excellent, superbly recorded release." Michael Tucker. Jazz Journal Dec 2002