WHAT’S ON

Tonight, Empirical, Gateshead Old Town Hall, 0191-433-8420; tomorrow Jason Yarde with Voice of the North, Darlington Arts Centre, 01325-486555, and Portico Quartet at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, 01642-727729.

CD REVIEWS

Empirical/Out ‘n’ In (Naim Jazz naimcd139)

Empirical’s first CD was chosen as record of the year but this follow up, which has a wonderful combination of control and looseness (produced, incidentally, by Jason Yarde), is probably even better. Inspired by the late Eric Dolphy it features two of his compositions, the rest being new ones by the quartet, now made up of Nathaniel Facey alto sax, Lewis Wright vibes, Tom Farmer bass and Shaney Forbes drums, with special guest Julian Siegel on tenor sax and bass clarinet.

Portico Quartet/Isla (Real World Records CDRW174)

With so much publicity resulting from their Mercury Prize shortlisting, I’m pleased to hear this band at last. With Jack Wyllie, saxophone and electronic loops, Milo Fitzpatrick, bass, Mick Mulvey hang drum and Duncan Bellamy, percussion, their post-jazz style seems to me to combine elements of jazz with more minimalist and ambient music. It’s hypnotic at times, but not very stimulating.