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The Observer (www.guardian.co.uk) Record Flight CD Review

"This band's strong points are the compositions and keyboard playing of leader John Harriman and the trumpet of Steve Waterman, which combine to create a spare, crisp, invigorating set of Latin jazz. Waterman, who ranks among today's top British players, is famous for sounding at home in virtually any genre, but his mastery of this idiom is quite outstanding - spiced with just the right touch of bravura. This approach suits Harriman's deceptively simple melodies to perfection. Among the scattering of other material are clever and unexpected adaptations of "Mack the Knife" and Astor Piazzolla's "Milonga del Angel".

Jazz UK

“An effervescent collection of Latin favourites and original compositions in the Cuban tradition with plenty of jazz content from excellent players including Steve Waterman”

The Musician

"Pianist and composer John Harriman has joined Steve Waterman (trumpet), Chino Martell Morgan (percussion), Buster Birch (drums) and Tim Robertson (bass) for this exciting new project, which specialises in sophisticated jazz-salsa. Cool, cultured and exhilarating, Carioca sets the tone with panache, but while this CD includes refined covers (Mack The Knife, Milonga Del Angel), John's originals fully encompass the Latin spirit but allow traces of inspired improvisation. Credit also to Derek Nash for his outstanding mixing and mastering. The start of something very special"

The Times longstanding music correspondent Nigel Williamson

''Heads South may not come from the barrios of Havana but they play Latin jazz like they've been doing it all their lives. Their musicianship is impeccable. But more importantly, they play with a real feel and spirit for the music....''

Chris Parker CD Reviews Vortex Jazz Club

The salsa quintet Heads South was formed for the best of reasons: its members – pianist/composer/leader John Harriman, trumpeter Steve Waterman, Cuban percussionist Chino Martell Morgan, drummer Buster Birch and New Zealand-born bassist Tim Robertson – simply enjoyed playing together on an ad hoc basis, so decided to make the arrangement more formal.

'Salsa', in this case, covers everything from the Vincent Youmans classic 'Carioca' (written for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers's first screen dance in Flying Down to Rio), through a number of Cuban/Iberian-flavoured Harriman originals, to a latinised 'Mack the Knife' and a visit to Astor Piazzolla's languorous 'Milonga del Angel', but whatever precise musical category they're operating in, the quintet infuse everything they play with appropriate pep and vigour, Waterman in particular firing off a series of blazingly bright, pin-sharp solos over Morgan and Birch's taut but supple rhythm-section work.

Harriman himself performs on electric and acoustic piano with equal facility, and his compositions are bright, breezy and accessible; Record Flight is an enjoyable calling card for a refreshingly unpretentious but musicianly band.

All About Jazz (USA)

There can be joy in solitude. While the London-based band Heads South basks in the partying vibes of Latin jazz, the strongest moments on their debut album, Record Flight, are ironically when they ease off the gas pedal. The haunted "Juntito" is a powerhouse ballad, a surprisingly introspective track from a group that often mirrors a steamy summer evening in the tropics. Composer John Harriman's elegiac piano has the lonesome beauty of a moon-kissed lake while Steve Waterman's velvety trumpet caresses each of its notes like a cool wind. It is downright gorgeous, the stuff that romantic dreams are made of. Similarly, the band's sublime rendition of the tango "Milonga del Angel" is profoundly moving; Harriman's measured piano work strips away layers of slow-burning passion.

Heads South's quiet breaks appear after the group has worked up a sweat; they don't overshadow the rest of the album, and nor do they crash its mostly quick pace. Waterman's spirited trumpet, Harriman's jumpy piano, and Buster Birch's fervent drumming make Heads South achieve lift off on the opening cut, a sprightly cover of Vincent Youmans' 1933 classic, "Carioca." The band's salsa-flavored remake of "Mack the Knife" injects a new identity and vigor into the somewhat tired staple, especially Waterman's buoyant trumpet.

The focus of Heads South may be to entertain but that doesn't belittle the group's seriously on-target musicianship. It takes top-drawer talent to pull off the percolating rhythms in "Carion" as well as crafting other original Latin jazz songs that distinguish themselves in an often cluttered, derivative field. As the group's beat frenzy catches a hot streak on "El Cardenal," it becomes obvious that their compass is upside down. Heads South is rocketing to a different direction, up higher north where the sun and the moon dance night and day.

Cadence Magazine (USA)

Latin music, mostly salsa, is the predominate source on RECORD FLIGHT (Aline 10) by the British quintet HEADS SOUTH (John Harriman, p, kybds; Steve Waterman, tpt; Tim Robertson, el b; or Ed Harrison, b; Buster Birch, d; Chino Martell Morgan, perc). The ten tracks are mostly originals by Harriman (Petalos Di Tierra / Juntito / Sweet Swan / Heyday / Carion / El Cardenal) and Waterman (“Nowhere To Go”) with a few well-chosen covers (Carioca / Mack The Knife / Milonga Del Angel). (total time: 52:38. recorded 2008-09, London, UK) Most of the tunes are uptempo and the band plays with spirit and vigor. Waterman’s trumpet is strong and lyrical. Harriman’s piano percolates behind him while the rhythm section lays down a solid Latin beat. Perhaps the band’s most original stroke is an arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s “Milonga Del Angel” where the tango element is de-emphasized and a more salsafied element is to the fore (especially in the piano figure). A slow ballad, it’s also a nice feature for Waterman trumpet which delivers a solo full of dark and light.

Here's a link to a picture of the album Record Flight track list

http://www.headssouth.com/media/press/Record%20Flight%20Album.jpg