Dino Coccia - Widespace (Widespace Records cat.no.WSROO1)
by Gordon Baxter

It is rare that drummers get to release albums of their recordings, especially non-singing drummers. "Wide Space" combines tracks from several recent sessions where British drummer Dino Coccia worked alongside some of the best British blues and jazz musicians. The end result is at least equal to the sum of its parts.
The album opens in jazzy mode with a classy version of Art Pepper's "Rita San." This is the first track from a session recorded with top British saxman Alan Barnes, and award-winning pianist Dave Newton. The same line-up plays on the ensuing "Ballad for Dean" (a Barnes original) before a blues interlude lasting a couple of tracks. Then, "No Frills" proves there really is a point where blues and jazz meet and overlap. The excellent Bob Haddrell is on vocals.

The third Barcode (Alan Glenn) joins Coccia and Haddrell for Slim Harpo's "I'm A King Bee," before handing over to British Blues Boom veteran, Gordon Smith. Smith is a fine guitarist and singer, and shows his virtuosity by serving up fine interpretations covering a range of tunes: Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," "Hey Renee" (a Smith original), and Clifton Chenier's "Comin' Home." The diversity presents no problem to Coccia, however.

After another from the Barnes session ("More Thrills") another Blues Boom Veteran, Shakey Vic, turns up on vocals and harp for a couple of originals ("Resolution Blues" and "Stop Tryin' It On"). So far so (very) good, but then we get "Thurlow Park Blues." This is an out-take from the sessions for Sonny Black and the Dukes excellent "Heart and Soul" album. It is hard to see why it never made it. Guitarist Black and saxman Barnes combine perfectly with the engine room (George Pearson and Coccia) to deliver one of the best slow blues numbers around.

On the last track you finally get to hear Coccia do his thing. The title track opens with a near perfect drum solo, i.e. not too long, not too repetitive. Barnes then joins in on sax, or strictly speaking, on a range of saxes. He never detracts from the stalwart role played by Coccia, and shows how well sax(es) and drums can combine in a duo.
"Wide Space" is a very fine album that nicely straddles the blues and jazz border. Unless you pay special attention, it is rare that you notice a good drummer. If they were not there (or were bad), you would be very aware of it, but if they are good, they just blend in unnoticed. Coccia is one of the very best blues/jazz drummers on the British scene. When you combine his talents with some of the best British blues and jazz musicians around you would expect good things to happen, and on "Wide Space" they certainly do.

Dino Coccia - Widespace
Blues News

This is Dino Coccia's debut album, though he has previously appeared on recordings by UK blues artists like Sonny Black, and The Barcodes, who have Alan Glen of the Yardbirds on guitar and Bob Haddrell on organ and bass pedals. As a non-singing drummer putting out a CD, Dino wisely recruits these guys and a bunch more talented musicians to help him out.

Widespace starts in jazz mode with a cover of Art Pepper's "Rita San", featuring stellar sax by Alan Barnes and David Newton on piano. This line-up continues with "Ballad For Dean", an Alan Barnes composition, with a notable bass solo by Tim Wells. At this point I should mention that the album is dedicated to a young boy called Dean Hajir and the other children at a special needs school in South London which recently had to close down. This is a noble cause but one that could easily translate into rather gauche songwriting and Dino wisely limits musical tributes to tasteful instrumentals like this one.

From here on we're in blues territory, with highlights being the tracks featuring Gordon Smith on vocals and acoustic guitar. He covers Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night" beautifully then follows it up with a couple of cajun-inflected tracks, an original and a cover of Clifton Chenier's "Comin' Home" which takes on pleasing tinges of Van Morrison. On "Resolution Blues", Shakey Vick laments that a woman is asking him to make a resolution and stop 'staying out all night playing blues and drinking beer'. Well that's enough to give anyone the blues, and would probably get them out all night drinking beer too! Vick is ably backed here by The Barcodes and he blows and sings in a style reminiscent of Sonny Boy Williamson, making for some very satisfying blues. The album closes with a couple of instrumentals. "Thurlow Park Blues" is a slow blues and Dino brings the talented Alan Barnes back on tenor. This track also features Sonny Black on guitar and he contributes some extremely tasty yet understated lead lines.

After capably backing all the aforementioned artists for thirteen tracks the closer gives drummer and session leader Dino a chance to shine, bouncing one-man horn section Alan Barnes' vaguely avant-garde lines through some jumpy latin rhythms. The quality of recording and musicianship on this self-produced CD is exemplary and I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you also like jazz. And of course the drumming is impeccable throughout! To get a copy your best bet is to email the artist directly on widespace@aol.com.

Paul Garner - Blues News