DIVING FOR PEARLS: JAZZ INTERPRETATIONS OF THE

LP version. Marina Records present one of their most unusual and best releases yet: The music of The Pearlfishers, one of Marina's most beloved acts, gets the royal jazz treatment, with exciting new arrangements by the Colin Steele Quartet. Continuing a great jazz tradition -- like Miles Davis with Porgy & Bess (1958) and Chet Baker with Plays The Best Of Lerner & Loewe (1959) -- Diving For Pearls is dedicated to the work of one composer, David Scott of The Pearlfishers. Colin Steele from Edinburgh, one of UK's leading jazz trumpeters, adds his very own sound and interpretations to Scott's songs and transports them into a brand new musical territory. Steele has a long association with The Pearlfishers since he appeared as a studio musician on many of their albums. Steele: I'd played on many sessions with The Pearlfishers before, and have a similar taste in music with David Scott, with our shared love of Burt Bacharach, Beatles and Beach Boys. I was impressed by the depth of the beautiful melodies and could immediately hear my own voice playing these melodies -- specifically using the 'Miles Davis sound' of the Harmon mute. The album kick starts with the joyous blast of The Bluebells -- originally appearing on The Pearlfishers' album Up With The Larks (MA 069CD, 2007). Colin Steele makes it swing and rise just beautifully. His warm, melodic playing and tone is also a perfect match for the wonderful Everything Works Out, one of Scott's most enduring songs. The Vampires Of Camelon rides on a great piano riff reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi -- brilliantly played by Dave Milligan, Steele's long-time collaborator, who also arranged the album. Ice Race -- from the Pearlfishers' seasonal album A Sunflower At Christmas (MA 063CD/LP, 2006) -- gets propelled to new heights by the powerhouse drumming of Alyn Cosker. Gone In The Winter is a superb showcase for the exceptional deep-toned, warm double-bass playing of Calum Gourlay. The piano intro of The Umbrellas Of Shibuya quite fittingly recalls the stripped-down beauty of Ryuichi Sakamoto. And then Steele breezes in with the fantastic melody and his imaginative playing. The album comes to a perfect close with the blissful coda Swan Dreams, originally from Sky Meadows (2003). Diving For Pearls was recorded in just one day -- like many of the greatest jazz albums -- at Scotland's famous Castlesound Studios. Masterfully engineered by Stuart Hamilton. - 01. The Bluebells?02. We'll Get By?03. Everything Works Out?04. The Vampires Of Camelon?05. Ice Race?06. You'll Never Steal My Spirit?07. Gone In The Winter?08. Snow On The Pines?09. The Umbrellas Of Shibuya?10. Swan Dreams