Anything But Look is to be pianist Jason Rebello’s next album, his new label Lyte Records has confirmed. It will be Rebello’s first album as a leader since Jazz Rainbow, released in 2007. Rebello, now 44, has spent significant stretches touring and recording with Sting appearing on the Brand New Day, All This Time and Sacred Love albums and most recently as a member of the blues-rock guitar legend Jeff Beck’s Group appearing on such albums as Performing This Week, Emotion and Commotion and Rock and Roll Party.  Rebello initially sprang to prominence during the late-1980s and early-1990s “jazz boom” in the UK when a wave of new talent he became closely identified with including Courtney Pine, Andy Sheppard, Tommy Smith, Julian Joseph, and Steve Williamson inspired a wider public and renewed interest in the media in jazz, and particularly homegrown youthful players. Rebello signed to a major label and recorded for RCA’s Novus imprint, with no less a figure than Wayne Shorter producing his debut, A Clearer View. Influenced by wide ranging musical input including the funkier side of Herbie Hancock’s style as well as progressive fusion, hip hop and soul music, Rebello had studied at Guildhall, one of the most progressive music colleges in terms of jazz at the time and A Clearer View clearly announced a significant new presence on the UK and wider international jazz scene. Rebello followed this album with Keeping Time, the soulful Make It Real, with guests including Maxi Jazz later of Faithless, and Last Dance; and then a gap that would end with the release of Next Time Round which Rebello recorded in New York, to be followed eight years later by Jazz Rainbow, a trio album based around children’s television and movie music themes. Before the release of the new album Rebello will make some select appearances including one later this week with his group at the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales on Friday, and at the Whirlwind festival in Kings Place in October appearing as a special guest with altoist Patrick Cornelius. Anything But Look was recorded at the Sphere studio in London with Rebello joined by bassist Karl Rasheed-Abel and drummer Troy Miller with other musicians also featuring on the album including Pino Palladino, Paul Stacey, Jeremy Stacey, Joy Rose, Xantone Blacq, Sumudu Jayatilaka, Jacob Collier, Will Downing, Miles Bould, and Tim Garland. Lyte, a County Down-based record label run by drummer David Lyttle who Rebello guested with at this year’s City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival, is to release the album on 4 November. “We’re honoured to be releasing iconic pianist @JasRebello’s much-awaited album Anything But Look," the label commented via Twitter. Stephen Graham
Jason Rebello, above

Updated 1710 with new release date