This Is For You by Andy Mayo

Reviewed by Ian Hayter

Andy Mayo has been playing guitar since he was 12 and this is his second major CD (he also released a cassette album in 1993) which showcases his blues-influenced jazzy ballads. Working with longtime collaborator Nick Beston on saxes and the Serbian keyboard player Stan Mejerski (who engineered Mayo's 2003 album 'Dreams Of A Homecoming') Andy has put together a finely crafted set of songs which speak clearly of the Gospel and relate it to the experience of the man in the street (or the man in the jazz café, in this instance). His careful vocals mean that every word is heard and the diverse musical arrangements - particularly those which feature the aforementioned Nick Beston, and some achingly beautiful strings - are wonderfully produced. Some of the songs are obviously very personal and there are two or three which have a narrative style to equal the best of Tilbrook and Difford's work with Squeeze, "He Says He Loves Her" being a prime example. "Jazz Café" makes explicit an atmosphere which really pervades the whole album and into that atmosphere Andy sings the good news of Jesus with a forthrightness that hits the listener between the eyes. At a time when singer/songwriters are enjoying something of a renaissance, Andy Mayo's work is definitely up there with the best of them.