The Leeds, UK quartet follows up last year’s breakthrough debut with a brand new album off of ATA Records, titled Clap Your Hands, that features eight new tracks of Latin-tinged jazz dance groovers.

The quartet’s previous album was a nod to the classic soul-jazz sound that artists like Young-Holt Unlimited, Cannonball Adderley, and The Ramsey Lewis Trio (which the group’s name references) helped establish during the sixties. Their sophomore record incorporates a lot of those same elements, however channels a bit of a more Latin feel (even though the debut definitely had a little of that as well), featuring piano-driven jazz grooves layered over funky percussive rhythms.

The band is made up of a four solid musicians that also appear on many other ATA releases, including pianist George Cooper (Abstract Orchestra), bassist Neil Innes (The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill), drummer Sam Hobbs (Dread Supreme, Tony Burkill, Matthew Bourne) and percussionist Pete Williams (The Sorcerers, The Magnificent Tape Band, Tony Burkill). 

Overall, another impressive jazz dance release from a group that will certainly make you “clap your hands,” and “stomp your feet.” 

The Lewis Express — ‘Clap Your Hands’
(ATA Records)

1. Clap Your Hands
2. Dança De Duas Mãos
3. Is It This?
4. Stomp Your Feet
5. Moola Umemo
6. Tico Tico
7. Flat Palm Avenue
8. Out From The Rock

BUY RECORD

• Jazz
• Latin
• New Releases