‘…One of the finest male voices in contemporary soul’

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I first stumbled across Jamison Ross during an impromptu visit to Nell’s Jazz and Blues in West Kensington four years ago. The artist has had a lasting impression on me since.

Last night, Ross performed in Pizza Express High Holborn, joined by bassist Barry Stephenson and guitarist Rick Lollar. A respected figure in contemporary jazz, Ross won the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Drum Competition in 2012. His debut album Jamison (2015) – foregrounding his skills as a songwriter, drummer, and vocalist – received a Grammy nomination for ‘Best Jazz Vocal Album’. Along with the likes of Tony Momrelle, he surely has one of the finest male voices in contemporary soul: sonorous, dexterous, and with a honeyed timbre to his low tones.

With an extensive musical vocabulary spanning jazz, soul, and gospel, Ross performed material from his debut album and sophomore All For One (2018). After a drum solo, he began the set with ‘Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy’, a jazz tune written by Mose Allison. He followed with his rhythmic and energetic rendition of ‘A Mellow Good Time’, originally performed by Lee Dorsey. Sat at the drums throughout, he hit soaring tenor notes with ease. He closed the first set with a Donny Hathaway-inspired rendition of The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’.

He began the second set with his percussion-driven cover of Muddy Waters’ ‘Deep Down in Florida’, a vast departure from the dirty, electrified original. ‘Call Me’, selected as one of The House That Soul Built‘s top soul songs of 2018 for its warming lyrics and brilliant crescendo, was delivered with pulsating bass from Stephenson. With honesty and vulnerable phrasing, the lullaby-esque ballad ‘Away’ addressed Ross’ sadness at being separated from his daughter due to the demands of his work. A testament as to Ross’ ear for an uplifting hook, I had to confirm to my companion for the evening that ‘Keep On’ was a Jamison Ross/Rick Lollar original and not a soul classic from the 1960s. Another drum solo flowed into a theatrical rendition of Willie Tee’s ‘All For One’, with a searing guitar solo from Lollar.

Taking evident joy in the work of his two companions, Ross had a mischievous grin on his face throughout. At the end of his performances, he often broke into a cappella – underscoring the conviction of his delivery and the superb calibre of his vocals.

(Image taken from Jamison Ross’ Facebook page)