Spirit Speech

4-STARS A relatively new face on the UK scene, the 25-year-old Amsterdam-based Scottish pianist-composer had lessons from his father in classical music before winning a scholarship to Leeds College of Music. In 2010 he went on the Masters course at Amsterdam Conservatory and has since released two albums as leader of a piano trio. On his third, Spirit Speech, there's undoubtedly signs of the more familiar classic piano trio influences such as Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett in Marshall's musical arsenal. But the main man in terms of contemporary input seems to be Robert Glasper. That's the funky, neo-soulful jazz vibe of the stellar Texan's piano trio we're talking about - and while Glasper isn't working in the acoustic mode so much at the moment, it makes now as good a time as any to pitch up in similar territory. Marshall does it his way, playing imaginatively and with a highly spirited sense of groove. The Dutch rhythm section of double bassist Tobias Nijboer and nu-beats drummer Jamie Peet give good support to the pianist sonically. On this very confident showing, Marshall looks to be one for the future.