"British saxophonist, ROB HALL has made a substantial impression on both the local and European scenes in recent years" The Guardian (London, UK) "CHICK LYALL is the most adventurous Scottish pianist of the current generation." Penguin Guide to Jazz

12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Contemporary Jazz, JAZZ: Modern Creative Jazz

Show all album songs: The Beaten Path Songs


Details:
"Saxophonist Rob Hall and pianist Chick Lyall merge classical, jazz and Celtic flavours to create work of depth and imagination"

Musician Magazine, UK

"...atmospheric and evocative ... both players are able to find their space in the music with impeccable taste and discrimination."

Jazzwise, UK

âBy turns flowing, lyrical, staccato, barbed and witty ⦠a compositional awareness and a satisfying mutual understanding in the freer passagesâ

The Herald, Glasgow UK (Rob Hall & Chick Lyall concert review)


'THE BEATEN PATH' :

- Rob Hall Sopranino, Soprano, Alto, Tenor saxophones, Clarinet

- Chick Lyall Piano

Recorded on 27-28 March 2005 Edinburgh

Engineered and Mixed by David Garrett

Produced by Chick Lyall and Rob Hall

'The Beaten Path' is the much anticipated release from the Scottish-based contemporary duo of Rob Hall and Chick Lyall . Pooling their respective writing talents, both musicians contribute compositions, interspersed with a series of short, free improvisations. Their expressive range merges jazz, contemporary classical and Celtic sonorities, and this new CD recording exemplifies the fluid and engaging language these two fine musicians have developed over a two year period of performing together. The duo of Rob Hall/Chick Lyall has performed throughout the UK from concert halls to ceilidh rooms and is equally at home in jazz and multi-arts venues.

UK Reviews:

CD REVIEW Musician Magazine SPRING 06
Rob Hall & Chick Lyall The Beaten Path (FMR CD170-CO505)
[Musician, Spring 2006] :

"Scottish duo saxophonist Rob Hall and pianist Chick Lyall merge classical, jazz and Celtic flavours to create a work of depth and imagination consisting of self-penned instrumentals. The pair sprinkle delightful pinches of hot spice across every cut and surprise with twists of improvisational wizardry. The warm chordal opener 'Devilâs Advocate' is instantly followed by the energetic 'Late', which flows into the fluid arpeggios of 'Campsie Falls'. Lovely stuff."

Keith Ames

CD REVIEW Jazzwise DEC 05
Rob Hall & Chick Lyall The Beaten Path (FMR CD170-CO505)
[Jazzwise, Dec 2005] :
***
"Saxophonist Rob Hall has carved out a notable niche in both performance and education since moving to Scotland a few years back, while pianist Chick Lyall has been a creative force on the Scottish jazz scene since the late 1980s. This refined duo outing reflects the work they have been doing together over the past couple of years, and both players contributed compositions to the session, drawing on influences from their work in classical and â to a lesser extent â Celtic music contexts as well as jazz. The result is a series of beautifully constructed and cleanly articulated pieces that are notably atmospheric and evocative, to the point of verging on being classed as tone poems at times. These formal compositions are linked by occasional brief freely improvised interludes. Hallâs use of four different saxophones adds variety to the sonic palette, and both players are able to find their space in the music with impeccable taste and discrimination."

Kenny Mathieson



The Scotsman, Scotland
Published Date: 21 July 2005

ROB HALL AND CHICK LYALL ***
HENRY'S JAZZ CELLAR, EDINBURGH
(Live concert review)

"WITH most people outside enjoying the warm July weather, it was a tall order to expect a large amount of people to swap the beer garden for a dark basement. Bad timing, perhaps, and saxophonist and pianist Rob Hall and Chick Lyall responded with a plethora of free-jazz and avant garde musings that, although great to listen to, were dispensed without any real zest, though with some exquisite playing.

"Playing music from their brand new album, 'The Beaten Path', the first half showcased both sides of each player's expertise. While Lyall was bamboozling you with his jutted, jittery piano playing ('Devil's Advocat'e sounds like the eerie incidental music found on video-nasty era horror movies), former Berklee College student Hall was tooting meticulously well on 'Campsie Fells', as though he were auditioning for a slot in Frank Zappa's early 70s band.

"The emergence of another former Berklee student, drummer Alyn Cosker, and bassist Brian Shiels after the break took things up a notch. By now, Hall was reed-hopping between soprano, alto and tenor sax, the engine room getting to work on fiesty-yet-lengthy ditties such as 'Decisions' and 'After The Rain'. Shiels' clever continued use of octaves brought some creative tension to proceedings. A commendable show wasted on the very few."

By BARRY GORDON


Also available on CD Baby:

CHICK LYALL with JOAKIM MILDER, MIKE DUNNING & TOM BANCROFT
'BROKEN POEMS'

GREEN ROOM (Chick LyallDavid Garrett) 'TIN MAN'

GREEN ROOM (Chick LyallDavid Garrett) 'UNDERTOW'