On Fools and Clowns is the debut recording by award-winning UK pianist/composer Nico Widdowson and his Trio. Since I review a lot of piano music that is very soothing and relaxing, I need to say upfront that the likelihood of your falling asleep to this album is very slim, and that is in no way a negative statement! Widdowson composed most of the pieces for the album after moving from Leeds to London and his music often reflects on the realities of the life of an artist in a huge city. The eleven tracks on the album offer a combination of stride piano, free improvisation and modern trio interplay enhanced with a strong sense of humor and a very distinct personality. Sometimes lyrical and sometimes rough and more chaotic, the music often reflects the state of today’s world as well as the conditions of a young artist’s life. The music was developed through a series of live performances before being recorded as live sets on a boat on the Thames, prioritizing spontaneity over perfection. The Trio includes Joe MacLaren on bass with Jordan Hadfield and Charlie Hutchinson alternating on drums.

I think this quote from promotional material really captures the spirit of the music:
“The result is an album that embraces contradiction. Humour sits alongside seriousness. Beauty collides with ugliness. Moments of tenderness are followed by bursts of chaos. A tune inspired by a mould-ridden rental house shares space with a heartfelt dedication to family; a celebration of artistic community sits alongside reflections on financial pressure and creative self-doubt….With “On Fools and Clowns,” he presents an album rooted in jazz tradition, shaped by contemporary realities, and driven by a belief that music can be funny, vulnerable, messy and deeply human all at once.”

On Fools and Clowns begins with “Angela Scott,” a tribute of sorts to a “semi-fictional landlord” who was not beloved by her tenants! The piece includes an extended bass solo between the hard-driving band parts that let us know right away that this trio means business! “Are You There, Lion?” is a lively tribute to Willie “The Lion” Smith (1893-1973), one of the giants of the stride piano style. “Duke’s Blues” gives bassist Joe MacLaren plenty of room to shine in the first half of the piece before the energy level explodes. “Nicotine Fingers” is bright, lively and full of fun - definitely a favorite! “And Also Her Mother” is quite different and is a piano solo that explores the feeling of growing up and growing apart from your parents. Much slower and very soulful, it presents a very interesting contrast to the previous pieces on the album. “Today I’ve Been Feelin’ Blue” begins as a short piano solo before adding bass, drums and a very bluesy style that I love - another favorite! “To Those I Love” is the first piece on the album that Nico wrote and is a smooth, heartfelt ballad. I thought this quote from Nico was profound: “There’s so much silliness in my music, self-referential humour and hyped up anger, but it’s in the earnestness of the ballads where all those emotions are balanced.” A duet for piano and bass, it’s quite different from the other tracks and shows a different side of both musicians. I was delighted to discover that the last track on the album is Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” - a very longtime favorite of my own. The opening passage is a free improvisation - not Joplin’s - but the rest of piece is bright, lively and full of fun - a great closing to a fascinating album!

On Fools and Clowns will be released on September 18, 2026 and is available to pre-order on Bandcamp. More links will be added as they become available. Give it a spin!