Home »
Jazz Articles » Album Review » Neil Pyzer: From the Bush to the Pridelands
Neil Pyzer: From the Bush to the Pridelands
Multi-instrumentalist Neil Pyzer’s
From the Bush to the Pridelands is an eclectic, multi-faceted outing which truly charts its own course. The program of all original compositions draws influences from Indian music (most prominently), contemporary jazz, new age, and numerous “world music” genres. Each piece has its own set of sonic textures, but common threads that run throughout the program are Pyzer’s snaking, inquisitive soprano sax, background synth washes, and an infectious percussion groove. On some songs, counterpoint to the soprano sax lead is provided by Kamelesh Patel’s sitar or Beverley Skeete’s wordless, sometimes nasally/growly vocals. “Pedro” features lyrics written by Skeete.
It’s really a very interesting listening experience. Pyzer has succeeded in creating his own unique fusion of musical styles from around the world, especially India. It’s cleanly and expertly performed by an ensemble that comprehends Pyzer’s musical vision. From a jazz perspective, you won’t hear anything resembling swing, bebop, blues, or any of the other ingredients that typify the genre, but Pyzer’s constantly probing and improvising sax lines are clearly informed by the jazz tradition.
Personnel
Album information
Title: From The Bush To The Pridelands
| Year Released: 2002
| Record Label: Creative Sources
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to
future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by
making a donation today.
