The story begins in the "realm of the now," a
high-fantasy location set in a fictional universe with an epic stature of
characters, themes and discoveries for the listener to interpret literally but
most importantly metaphorically. With each unfolding and ethereal track, the
subjects make their way through the secondary world on a hero's journey, meant
to be up to the listener to determine the ultimate goal, to by all means
necessary make it to the Mountain of Forever.
Finally, after a six "chapter" voyage, the
listener discovers the "realms of the infinite," a location where
anything from your wildest dreams can occur, a place of self-discovery and
universal mystery. The Mountain of Forever is obtainable, but its path is
dangerous and the journeymen are met with seemingly impossible tasks and
challenges along its course while making new companions essential to completing
the journey.
This is a universe meant to challenge the very fabric of our
meaning, the very nature of our existence, and the opening of the mind in the
purest sense.
This Tolkien-esque adventure is described by the saxophone
and drums duo of Binker and Moses as "traveling with us from the 'realm of
the now' to the 'realms of the infinite' meeting along the way Shamans, the
great Besbunu, the Ultra Blacks and various other tribes, monsters & characters
while immersing yourself in their strange rituals, potions, music, and a world
which has no end."
Binker and Moses' new release, Journey To The Mountain Of
Forever is a 15-track, two-record set concept album available now on Gearbox
Records: the first disc features the duo on their own while for the second they
are joined throughout by saxophonist Evan Parker, trumpeter Byron Wallen,
harpist Tori Handsley, tabla player Sarathy Korwar and drummer Yussef Dayes.
Tenor saxophonist Binker Golding and drummer Moses Boyd's creation is as
surrounded in mystery as much as grounded in the experimental resurgence of
spiritual jazz, weaving in-and-out of tradition while pushing the boundaries of
instrumental music to it's fullest potential.
Binker and Moses started playing together through the
Tomorrow's Warriors jazz development program and the late American trumpeter
Abram Wilson. They are both full members of Zara McFarlane's band where they
started developing their duo improvisations during sound checks, and also
perform in Moses' expanded Exodus lineup. Their debut album Dem Ones was
recorded in October 2014 from the live room at Mark Ronson's Zelig Studio to
the 1/4" tape machine at Gearbox Studio next door, with no edits, overdubs
or mixing.
When Dem Ones was released in the summer of 2015, it
kick-started a sensational year for the young duo. They won a string of awards
including 2015 MOBO Awards: Best Jazz Act, Jazz FM Awards 2016: UK Jazz Act of
the Year and Breakthrough Act of the Year and the 2016 Parliamentary Jazz
Awards: Jazz Newcomer of the Year. Their festival and club performances
received rave reviews and ever-growing audiences, culminating in the November
2016 UK tour with US trio The Bad Plus.
Sessions for Journey to the Mountain of Forever took place
on July 21 and 22, 2016, resulting in 10 reels of tape filled with over five
hours of music. Like it's predecessor Dem Ones, the new album was recorded
completely live from Mark Ronson's Zelig studio' direct to a 1960's Studer C37
1/4" tape machine at Gearbox's studio in the building next door.
1. The Departure
2. Intoxication From The Jahvmonishi Leaves
3. Fete By The River
4. Trees On Fire
5. The Shaman's Chant
6. Leave The Now Behind
Disc Two: The Realms Of The Infinite
1. The Valley of the Ultra Blacks
2. Gifts From The Vibrations Of Light
3. Mysteries and Revelations
4. Ritual Of The Root
5. The Voice Of Besbunu
6. Echoes From The Other Side Of The Mountain
7. Reverse Genesis
8. Entering The Infinite
9. At The Feet Of The Mountain Of Forever
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