Jason Titley
Album: Still Rollin'
Label: Dreadnought
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.jasontitley.com

Jason has a reputation in bluegrass circles as one of the top UK guitarists in that genre, and this is borne out by the impressive roster of accompanying musicians he's able to call on for the recording of this, which (unbelievably) is his debut solo release. He certainly brings an excitement to his playing that matches his flair for rhythmic improvisation and freewheeling invention within the parameters of the musical idiom. The album cover, however, is deceptive, sporting photos of Jason at age 7 or 8 in Bushy Park; ok, he's got a banjo in hand on the back cover, above which the mouth-watering personnel credits divert one's attention - they include bluegrass legends aplenty: Matt Flinner, Rob Ickes, Tim O'Brien, Gabe and Mike Witcher, Tony Furtado and Casey Driessen, to name but a few… not to mention Leon Hunt, Damien O'Kane, Ben Somers and Josh Clark…

Actually, the whole affair feels less like a showcase for the reliable guitar skills of Jason himself, and more like a convivial session where a group of musician friends take turns leading an item in the comfort of their own space, even to the extent that half of the disc's dozen tracks feature a prominent vocal; these range from the lonesome lovesickness of Leanne Thorose and the honest-to-goodness expressiveness of Scott Law to the harder-edged, though overwrought soulfulness of Lewis Cohen (which, although commendably funky, doesn't always entirely gel with the vibe of the playing - and I find his two cuts the least satisfactory on the whole album). And Jason's dad Bill even gets a look-in with a swampy jugband-style fun cover of Plastic Jesus that actually manages to cut the mustard.

The various instrumental contributions, though, are both first-rate and supremely well-coordinated, virtuosic without going off into the realms of showiness, and observing the necessary house-rules without remaining straight-laced. Pick of the non-vocal cuts must be Fluff And Chuff (which features Ty Burhoe on tabla), the sax-fixated M.A.D., and Jason's own gentle solo guitar medley Gill's Tune/Sunrise. Jason even puts down his guitar and takes a subordinate role (darabuka) on a pair of Irish reels (track 3) recorded live on stage back in 2008. The disc's final track, which features Brad Johnson on mandolin, was also recorded live, this time at 1993's Yorkshire Dales Bluegrass Festival (yes, this album has been a long time in the making!), but I find its inclusion a touch questionable since its fluttery quality implies an inferior cassette source. And this really points to the disc's Achilles heel - its deliberately patchwork quality, its seeming over-emphasis (although well-intentioned) on the participation of others does at times rather dilute and detract from Jason's own perfectly efficient and likeable musical personality.

David Kidman