Simon H. Fell - Frank & Max CD

“Each tune covers such a wide and strong set of ideas with such clarity that it appears not as a painting might, a fixed space of articulation, but as a sculpture that reveals hundreds of aspects as you circle it. In some ways it’s a love letter not only to his friends and forebears but also to the instrument. Fell highlights the personal, the physical, the serene and the imaginative in a way all solo documents of this kind should be encouraged to do.” Ben Hall THE WIRE

“The real standout of the (recent Bo’weavil) batch is Frank & Max. These eight improvisations are studies teeming with musical invention. There is an inspired musicality to how Fell threads his ideas together, and each piece stands as a fully realized statement. He also performs Bill Evans’ Turn Out The Stars, delivering a free interpretation that hums and buzzes with spontaneous lyrical refinement. Highlight abound, but the nuanced arco on For John Edwards, the darkly resonant For Harry Miller, and the oscillating timbres of For Charles Mingus are all worth mention. The recording quality is stellar throughout, picking up every detail.” Michael Rosenstein SIGNAL TO NOISE