
The new wave of British jazz has been all the rage for a couple years and shows little sign of letting up. But as with any storm, a calm is sure to move in after the hurricanes and lightning desist.
Nérija is a Britjazz supergroup of sorts—Nubya Garcia (tenor saxophone), Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet), Cassie Kinoshi (alto saxophone), Rosie Turton (trombone), Shirley Tetteh (guitar), Lizy Exell (drums), and Rio Kai (bass)—but its first full-length release is a snorefest. Middling melodies float in like some odd odor that no one could be bothered to freshen up, wafting over grooves so torpid and sleepy that it sounds like the band recorded the last set of their last gig on the last day on earth.