Jazzusa.com
June 30th, 2002

Tuey Connell

IS THIS LOVE
(TuConn Music - 2000)

by John Barrett

It used to be called craft – the joy of an object well-constructed, meant to last. This album has it, in total abundance.
The songs, mostly written by Connell, have a finely-wrought elegance; his voice is rich and full of assurance. He yawns the lyrics, in a way that sounds natural: "For the sake of my heart, how it beats right from the start/ Can we reach the very top of this lost romantic art?" Behind him pound somber tom-toms, the occasional cymbal – he sounds lonely and wants to correct it. "Recipe for Love" swaggers a bit, helped by trumpet and Karl Montzka's organ. The next song could be the aftermath of the last: Connell's guitar ripples softly, while his voice shows doubt. "Only now do I perceive le difference enplein/ I guess I'll have to try again." It's the cry of a 'Thirties sophisticate; I thought it was an old song' til I looked at the credits. Tuey has so many skills, you could spend time deciding which is his best. Or you could just listen, and enjoy them all.
Tuey is partial to small groups and slow tempos; it's curl-by-the-fire music, best heard late at night. On "When You're Near" he's wordy and wonderful; Geof Bradfield is Presidential on the sax. Montzka has the Jimmy Smith groove for "Apothecary Blues"; Bradfield romps, in what must be his best solo. Connell is lovely on the restless "Night Flyer" – he turns sly as he describes "The Teacher in You". "I'll study your text, the figures you've got/ I'll capture your outline in one single snapshot." This one is frisky but not profane – shades of the old days. We even get a reprise of "Is It Love", this time an organ-drenched bolero. How soft he sounds, and how aching the words. This man has all the skills, and he will capture your heart.

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