Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Spring Heel Jack: Songs And Themes
Spring Heel Jack: Songs And Themes
ByWhile they have taken up instruments; Coxon the guitar, violin and bass and Wales has played various horns and guitars on previous albums, these two act more as producers or as a co-movie directors. On the previous Masses (2001), Amassed (2002), Live (2003), and The Sweetness Of The Water (2004) they collaborated with the jazz and free improvisation superstars, Evan Parker, Han Bennink, William Parker, Tim Berne, and Paul Rutherford, to name a just a few. These combinations could never have been realized without the vision of the progressive label Thirsty Ear's chiefs Peter Gordon and Matthew Shipp, whose mission is to steer jazz back into conversation with today's musical happenings.
Their music is a combination of Teo Macero meets Brian Eno and Tetsu Inoue's house. The story revealed is Coxon and Wales' combinations of players. They pair the majestic saxophonist John Tchicai to play over waves of string washes on the track "Dereks" and devise a soundscape (reminiscent of Eno's ambient 1970's work) on "With Out Words" in which John Edwards' bass and the breath of Roy Campbell's trumpet sound more overtly human powered than they might in a strictly acoustic setting.
The dreaminess of their production includes a chamber flute recital, "Eupen," a shreddy guitar visit by J. Spaceman, "1,000 Yards," the luxurious "At Long Last," complete with sampled harp and some lurking bass clarinet by Tchicai, plus some added radio interference. No grand gestures here (i.e. aggression) except for maybe the closing track "Garlands," that features Roy Campbell's trumpet in a sort of Ennio Morricone's spaghetti scored prelude to a shootout, complete with some whistling sounds.
What is admirable is the patience displayed here, the lack of onslaught, and the sounds of master improvising into the ether.
Track Listing
Church Music; Dereks; With Out Words; Eupen; For Paul Rutherford; Folk Players; Silvertone; Claraa; 1,000 Yards; Antiphon; At Long Last; Garlands.
Personnel
Spring Heel Jack
band / ensemble / orchestraRoy Campbell, Jr.: trumpet, pocket trumpet, flugelhorn, flute; John Coxon: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, sampler, violin, glockenspiel; John Edwards: double bass; Tony Marsh: drums; Orphy Robinson: vibraphone; John Tchicai: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Ashley Wales: samples; J. Spaceman: electric guitar; Rupert Clervaux: drums; Mark Sanders: drums.
Album information
Title: Songs And Themes | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: Thirsty Ear Recordings
Comments
About Spring Heel Jack
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To