Manuel Alvarez: ‘What We Are Here For’

The last few years have brought me some extraordinary exposure to individual instruments and the double bass - as opposed to bass guitar, which I also love - has come into my ears in a very special way. Some of my favourite musicians lug that thing around for fun and one of my new discoveries is Manuel Alvarez, who has a new album out on Mannix Records.

What We Are Here For is a delightful trio album led by bass and Alvarez himself says: “Inspired by the likes of Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Christian McBride or Monty Alexander, What We Are Here For is not only profoundly rooted on the mainstream jazz tradition but also has a very personal touch.”

Particularly beautiful is the trio’s version of Moonlight in Vermont, where each instrument treads its own course through this standard in a way that evokes the Sinatra version and brings the 80-year-old tune right up to date. All the tracks are great versions of tunes you may or may not know: completing this lovely trio alongside Alvarez’s bass are Gunther Kurmayr (piano) and Mark Taylor (drums). 

The bass opening of My Foolish Heart reaches right into your soul before the drums and piano sit underneath it to allow that bass to really sing. Ending the album with the question What Am I Here For? this upbeat standard proves exactly what the trio is here for: great jazz.

*** I am disappointed to have missed Manuel on his recent trip to Ronnie Scott’s in London and will definitely track him down live soon - review to follow!