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Matt Carmichael: Marram
ByThe parallels do not stop there. Coincidentally, Carmichael's jazz, like Tzur's, inhabits a non-jazz tradition. Tzur's is classical Indian raga, Carmichael's is Scottish folk music. Both musics are lyrical, rhythmically charged, and scalar rather than chordal. There is a difference however. Raga's melodic resolutions are often unpredictable, while in Scottish folk music, in common with all folk music the world over, each resolution can be heard coming a mile away. Consequently, after a while the listener's interest may pall.
Most of the time, however, Carmichael, while staying broadly within its parameters, tweaks the tradition. His compositions all nine tunes here were written by himfrequently take unexpected melodic turns. The result is music that does more than oil the wheels of social interaction, offering something to think about, too.
The band on Marram is the same as the one on Carmichael's well-received debut, Where Will The River Flow (Porthole, 2021), with one addition. The lineup is completed by pianist Fergus McCreadie, double bassist Ali Watson, drummer Tom Potter and a new member, fiddler Charlie Stewart. Stewart's role is in the main supportive, providing colour, and Carmichael is the chief soloist. McCreadie's big moment centrestage is on "Horizon," at 9:58 the lengthiest track, on which he takes the middle section, playing a solo which starts quietly and builds to a giddying intensity.
One comes away from Marram sensing that Carmichael is not done with developing his musical hybrid. Some fifteen years or so younger than Oded Tzur, his journey is still on its first steps. It will be interesting to follow its progress.
Track Listing
The Far Away Ones; Dune; Road To The Sea; Waves; Marram; Horizon; On The Gloaming Shore (Pt.1); On The Gloaming Shore (Pt.2).
Personnel
Matt Carmichael
saxophone, tenorCharlie Stewart
violinFergus McCreadie
pianoAli Watson
bassTom Potter
drumsAlbum information
Title: Marram | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Edition Records
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About Matt Carmichael
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
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