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Mark Lockheart: Days On Earth
ByThe first bars of the opener, "A View From Above" are deceptive, giving the impression of contemporary classical rather than jazz, but within around thirty seconds, the number transitions safely into a melodious Birth Of The Cool feel. However it progresses to something more complex than Miles Davis's landmark album. There's resistance and tension amongst the florid melodies. "This Much I Know" is a strongly rhythmic number with an insistent groove and an almost subliminal Eastern influence all enveloped in Western classical form. The mood changes radically with the irrepressibly upbeat, Latin flavoured "Party Animal," which undergoes a reflective sea-change half way through with a calming addition of strings.
The unequivocally rocking "Believers" features Lockheart's old sparring partner from Loose Tubes, John Parricelli on stunt guitar. The dynamic juxtaposition of classical with jazz instrumentation is acutely felt here whereas on "Triana" the strings and woodwind create a delicate pastoral setting and a veritable sonic smörgåsbord reflecting a broad tonal spectrum.
"Long Way Gone" is a joyously memorable finale involving a criss-crossing arrangement which epitomises the sheer accessibility of Lockheart's magnificent creation. As one of Britain's most accomplished saxophonists, Lockheart, a founder member of the illustrious Loose Tubes big band and more recently a member of Seb Rochford's Polar Bear, consistently produces recordings that are significant and fascinating. Days On Earth is no exception and as his most ambitious album to date, definitely invites repeated plays, the better to savour the intricate nuances contained within.
Track Listing
A View From Above; Brave World; This Much I Know Is True; Party Animal; Believers; Triana; Long Way Gone.
Personnel
Mark Lockheart
saxophoneMark Lockheart: tenor saxophone; Alice Leggett: alto saxophone; Liam Noble: piano; John Parricelli: guitar; Tom Herbert: bass; Sebastian Rochford: drums plus 30 piece orchestra conducted by John Ashton Thomas.
Album information
Title: Days On Earth | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Edition Records
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Comments
About Mark Lockheart
Instrument: Saxophone
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