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Magpie

Sarah Jerrom

Label: TPR Records
Released: 2024
Duration: 86:74
Views: 490

Tracks

Part I: The Road; Part II: For Joy; Part III: Circling Feathers; Part IV: The White Elk; Part V: Nest Predator; Part VI: Carrion; Part VII: The Mountain Cries; Part VIII: Crystallization (For R.)

Personnel

Additional Personnel / Information

Christian Overton (conductor) Laura Chambers (flutes, piccolo) Chieh-Ying Lu (oboe)

Album Description

The “Magpie" Suite - an evocative and transformative musical journey for expanded jazz orchestra and 4 voices - was born from a moment of awe; during residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts in January 2018, composer Sarah Jerrom observed magpies and crows performing a dance amidst a winter storm. At the time, Sarah was working on a deeply personal composition defying the stigma and taboo surrounding pregnancy loss. This experience not only captivated her but also set the narrative trajectory for the entire piece, and the complex world of magpies became a rich metaphor woven throughout the suite’s musical narrative.

The suite, which premiered on April 6, 2023 in Toronto, is a masterful blend of storytelling and music, guided by the folkloric nursery rhyme "One for Sorrow." It takes listeners on a journey through the eyes of its main character, Woman/Magpie, exploring profound themes such as feminism, infertility, grief, hope, and love. Each of the eight suite movements, from "The Road" to “Crystallization," offers a distinct musical experience, seamlessly integrating elements of classical and jazz ensembles as well as four vocalists led by Jerrom, creating a dynamic and immersive soundscape. “Magpie” is a tour de force, an emotional odyssey, a narrative of resilience, transformation, and the magic of storytelling through music.

Personnel:

Christian Overton - Conductor

Sarah Jerrom - voice, compositions, narrative

Laura Swankey - voice

Galen Sedlak - voice

Jackson Welchner - voice

Laura Chambers - flute, alto flute, piccolo

Chieh-Ying Lu - oboe

Tara Davidson - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute

Mike Murley - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet

Kirk MacDonald - tenor saxophone, clarinet

Shirantha Beddage - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet

James Rhodes - trumpet, flugelhorn (lead)

Kevin Turcotte - trumpet, flugelhorn

Brian O’Kane - trumpet, flugelhorn

Olivia Esther - French horn

William Carn - trombone

Zach Smith - trombone

Emily Ferrell - trombone

Tom Richards - bass trombone

Nancy Walker - piano

Rob McBride - bass

Ernesto Cervini - drums

Produced by Reg Schwager & Sarah Jerrom

Studio Production Assistant: Madeleine Ertel

Engineer: David Hermiston (Apr. 11/12), John “Beetle” Bailey (Apr. 16)

Engineer Assistants: Luke Schindler, Stephen Koszler

Edited and mixed by John “Beetle” Bailey at The Drive Shed

Immersive Mix and Master by John “Beetle” Bailey

Mastering by Jeff “Fedge” Elliot

Recorded at Revolution Recording in Toronto, ON Canada on Apr. 11th, 12th and 16th 2023.

Artwork by Yesim Tosuner of Backyard Design

Photography by Lauren Garbutt

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Album uploaded by Sarah Jerrom

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