Nat Birchall - Storyteller – A Musical Tribute To Yusef
Lateef
A tremendous record from one of our favorite saxophonists of
the past decade – the completely sublime, completely wonderful Nat Birchall – a
musician who was way ahead of the curve towards spiritual jazz that others have
hit in recent years, and one who still does it better than anyone else! The
title gives away only part of the story – as Nat's definitely paying tribute to
the great Yusef Lateef, particularly the mix of soulful jazz and exoticism in
his earlier work – but the overall execution is very much in the best Birchall
mode – long-building tracks, really informed by a strong tradition of spiritual
energy, and not just in musical form – as the leader blows tenor, soprano, bass
clarinet, and handles a range of instruments from around the globe – in the
company of Michael Bardon on bass, Andy Hay on drums and percussion, and either
Adam Fairhall or John Ellis on piano, depending on the track. A few of the
tunes are classics from the vintage Lateef songbook, and Birchall has also
seamlessly contributed a few numbers of his own – making for a fantastic
double-length set, with titles that include "Tales Of Saba",
"Ching Miau", "Salaam Brother Yusef", "Inward
Flight", "Brother John", "Not Yet Ornette",
"Ringo Oiwake", and "Mashariki" – plus a great version of
"Love Theme From Spartacus", a tune that Lateef made his own back in
the 60s, with a fantastic reading that's gone on to inspire many. ~ Dusty
Groove
Vin Gordon - African Shores
Fantastic work from Vin Gordon – who may well be one of the
greatest reggae trombonists since the legendary Rico – working here in a very
classic style that features plenty of contributions from saxophonist Nat
Birchall! Nat's very much in the space of his previous collaboration with
Gordon – and also plays piano, bass, and percussion – alongside co-producer Al
Breadwinner, who handles drums, guitar, organ, and piano too! Tracks are a mix
of echoey, dubby numbers that still have straightforward solo work from Gordon
– and others that have maybe a tighter tuneful vibe, but which still fit the
strong spirit of the entire session. The quartet also features Stally on
baritone and David Fullwood on trumpet – stepping out in all-instrumental
splendor, on titles that include "Gusum Peck",
"Shucumooku", "Sa La Vie", "African Shores",
"Gold Coast Dub", "Styler Man", and "Spill Over".
~ Dusty Groove
Born from a love of both surfing and musical improvisation, Bristolian trio ALAIAS share their debut LP 'Music For An Imaginary Surf Film', splashed with salty synth melodies and ambient electronic rhythms.
Incorporating groovy 60s rhythms and contemporary jazz orchestration, the album is a sun drenched audio adventure inspired by numerous surf movie soundtracks. From the woozy guitar riffs and fuzzy Moog bass of lead single 'Stranger Coasts', to the harmonic Hammond organ on 'Handy Cam', 'Music For An Imaginary Surf Film' is an underwater fantasy. With elements of post-rock, punk-jazz and ambient psychedelia, ALAIS's original scoring belongs to the sea, rippling languidly in the saltwater shallows. "We've all sat on a beach squinting at a pod of surfers performing seemingly effortless acrobatics. 'I wonder what that feels like' we think to ourselves. Listening to this music with your eyes closed might go some way to answering that question" the group recount. Brainchild of Dan Messore, the trio consists of Messore on guitar, organ and synth player Dan Moore and drummer Matt Brown. Meeting in Bristol, the collective quickly found common ground with a shared passion for jazz and electronic experimentation. Drawing inspiration from the rich rock traditions of Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell and John Fahey, the trio are constantly voyaging into new musical territory with their surprising compositions and thrillingly eclectic soundscapes. ‘Music For An Imaginary Surf Film’ was written as the name suggests - plunging the listener into the gentle currents of the glittering ocean tides.
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