“The playing and/or arrangements-enhanced at various junctures by a Hammond organ, vibraphone and Nord C2-are as imaginative as they are stylistically eclectic.”

Jeremy Nicholas -“Gramophone Magazine” on Ex-Mass

“…….it’s also one of those rare beasts- a Christmas disc which you can imagine listening to after the event. Keyboard player David Rees-Williams’s jazz trio arrangements always hit the spot”.

Graham Rickson –  “The Arts Desk” on Ex-Mass

 

The David Rees-Williams Trio have just got better and better …… their new recording of jazz forays into the classical repertoire is just magical.‘  Guy Dammann, The Guardian

Rees-Williams can cast a Bach prelude in exotic colours, but he and his colleagues are equally at home with Scarlatti, Grieg and Cesar Franck – they deserve a wider audience among jazz fans and classical diehards.’   Clive Davis, Sunday Times

Rees-Williams has taken the Jacques Loussier style of swinging Bach way further, tackling Franck, Grieg and Ravel with his piano trio while adding Hammond organ to the mix. The results are beautiful, subtle and dramatic.’  Sholto Byrnes, First Post

Jacques Loussier may have done it first but David Rees-Williams does it better. This trio continually presents us with startlingly new perspectives on old compositions, without making fun of the composers. They capture the romanticism of Grieg as well as the implicit lyricism of Bach and the playfulness of Mozart. It is to be hoped that this CD and their previous albums will make them much more widely known. They certainly deserve it.’  Tony Augarde, MusicWeb

This trio delight in putting improvisation back into classical music.‘  Editor’s Choice, HMV Choice

‘David Rees-Williams’ rendition of Purcell’s ‘When I am laid in earth’ literally stole my breath….I have been reduced to a groupie….David played a magical set of syncopated Stanford, Bach and the ethereal Purcell…the trio far outstrips anything achieved by Jacques Loussier or the Swingles. They are on another plane and deserve huge recognition.’  Jon Snow, Evening Standard

The third release by the David Rees-Williams Trio, whose speciality is to place classical themes in the context of the jazz piano trio, is the best by far.’  Independent on Sunday

David  is an extraordinary dextrous pianist who takes works by Purcell, Ravel, Bach, Buxtenhude and Handel off into amazing and unbelievable directions with stunning results.  Kentish Gazette.

David Rees-Williams’ excellent trio breathes new life into work by composers who were themselves improvisers…..the disc is a delight.’  The Independent

Channel 4’s Jon Snow put David Rees-Williams’ ‘When I am Laid in Earth’ by Purcell at no.5 in his list ‘103 Reasons to Love Life’ – Sunday Times

‘the ingenuity of the arrangements: Purcell’s Ground in E minor and a Buxtehude gigue, not to mention Elgar’s Chanson de Matin, turn out to be fertile material for the pianist and his partners……..provocative fare for the general listener…this is a set that yields its secrets at its own discreet pace.’  Sunday Times

‘The Canterbury-based pianist must be weary of hearing the comparisons with Jacques Loussier. His intelligent improvisations on Ravel, Bach and Purcell have a character all their own.’         Sunday   Times Top 10 of 2004

…Hidden Colours…walks a tightrope between classical and jazz, reworking existing tunes to stunning effect….they have a contender for album of the year.’        Editor’s Choice, HMV Choice

‘..an accomplished pianist whose repertoire contains some of the most gracefully eloquent themes ever composed…he’s clearly an impassioned collector of great tunes, wherever the source.’  The Guardian

 Channel 4’s Jon Snow’s choice of ‘Last Dose of Live Culture’ was ‘Thinking Aloud’ by David Rees-Williams    Daily Telegraph

Radio 3’s ‘Late Junction’ has rapidly propelled David Rees-Williams to much the same spot as Jacques Loussier occupied 40-od years ago – The Guardian

 ‘these are not jazzed-up classics but genuine reinterpretations that never lose sight of their musical roots.’  Rob Cowan, BBC Radio

Rees-Williams is an improviser with a voice of his own. It may be the fate of Hidden Colours to become hip background music but this album is much smarter than that.’  The Times

‘…all but the cloth-eared will find the Rees-Williams disc a delight., Sholto Byrnes,  Independent on Sunday

‘It was delightful to hear these exceptionally gifted musicians exploring and re-inventing a whole range of unlikely music.’ Xenophone Kelsey, Ripon Gazette

‘Hidden Colours’ – a collection of imaginative and intelligent riffs by the David Rees-Williams Trio.  Their variation on ‘Dido’s Lament’ by Purcell almost sent me reeling into the omelet pan.  No music in this groove has charmed me as much since the Swingle Singers’ jazzy Bach.  Katrine Ames, House & Garden