Paul Mottram: Seven Ages Of Man

Throughout history, many have tried to divide the human life cycle into defined stages. The most famous is William Shakespeare's reference to the seven ages in Jaques' speech in As You Like It, the one which starts "All the world's a stage." This was the initial spark which gave composer Paul Mottram the idea for Seven Ages Of Man, Shakespeare's seven ages being Infant, Schoolboy, Lover, Soldier, Judge, Pantaloon and Old Age. Mottram has added two introductory movements, Origins and Gestation. This major project, taking five years from concept to execution, sits at the intersection of jazz, classical and soundtrack.

Mottram may not be a familiar name but his work may be familiar. He has written for hundreds of TV shows including Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, The Crown and Upstart Crow. He has also worked as an orchestrator for films including Shirley Valentine and Rain Man.

The project initially started out as a vehicle for his friend, saxophonist Tim Garland. They knew each other from their days at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As the project grew, other friends from the Guildhall were added, pianist Jason Rebello and drummer Ralph Salmins. They also recruited vibraphonist Jonny Mansfield, bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado and percussionist Paul Clarvis to complete a jazz sextet. The classical part of the project comes from a string orchestra of violins, violas, cellos and double basses, led by John Mills and conducted by Garland.

Beginning with a long soprano saxophone solo from Garland, "Origins" gently builds as the rhythm section and then orchestra join. "Gestation" is more dramatic as the strings hover and swirl in the background before developing into a pulsing theme. This contrasts with the lullaby of "Infant" and the lively playfulness of "Schoolboy" (see the YouTube).

"Lover" has inventive solos from Rebello and Mansfield, and moves through adolescence as it transitions solos from soprano to tenor. "Soldier" uses pacing, textures and dynamics to emphasise its tense and edgy atmosphere. Rebello and Garland have worked in tandem for years and it shows on "Judge," a melodic stand-out with sumptuous strings which also builds on and enhances earlier themes. Garland moves to bass clarinet for the quirky "Pantaloon" before hints of previous sections are brought together in the melancholy-tinged "Old Age."

With a great sense of scale, Mottram has succeeded in channeling the emotional narrative of the subject through his music. This is powerful and exquisitely crafted compositional writing. The balance and interlacing of scored and improvised, within the structure of a classical piece, is highly impressive. A compelling and engaging listen.

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