Johnny Woodham, aka Jsphynx is a talented trumpeter and composer. He’s cut his teeth playing alongside premiere musicians such as Ashley Henry, Jordan Rakei, Barney Artist among others. During lockdown Woodham started laying down the ground work for this album and also looped in some of his friends. Bassist Rudi Creswick and dynamic drummer Richard Spaven are at the center of London’s vibrant jazz scene. Released on Sekito, the label started by Pianist/producer Alfa Mist “Reflex” blends a touch of jazz and broken beats resulting in an engaging session highlighted by superb performances. The title tracks gets the disc to a rousing start. Spaven’s pulsating drumming sets the tone for Woodham’s melodic flourishes. “King Cobra” is another burner ignited by Alfa Mist on keys and hard driving frenetic pace courtesy of Spaven. The palette of Woodham along with trombonist Liam Shorthall and Michael Underwood on sax merge and create a variety of harmonic ecstasy. “Reflex” showcases an array of London’s up and coming musicians. Based on this release it would be wise to keep an eye out for upcoming releases from t his label.
