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To Our Land Pt.1- by James Wylie

From the album

Album Title: To Our Land
Label: Rattle Records
Released: 2025

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About the Album

Recorded in Greece with a superb ensemble of Thessaloniki-based jazz musicians, James Wylie makes his Rattle debut with an album of beautifully recorded and performed compositions that will delight fans of high-quality contemporary jazz.

James Wylie’s Alive and Well is a striking musical project that melds contemporary jazz with the primordial melodies and rhythms of the Near East. To Our Land is an atmospheric suite that balances compositional precision with free improvisation, shaping a soundscape that is at once intense, fluid, and effortlessly spiritual. The core quartet—alto and tenor saxophones, electric guitar, double bass, and drums—is enriched by the addition of Persian string instruments such as the kamancheh and gheychek, performed by Wylie himself. This expanded instrumentation creates a compelling dialogue between West and East, tradition and avant-garde aesthetics. The music moves freely between modal inflections, abstract harmonies, and explosive energy, all while maintaining a deep, resonant lyricism.

“In recent years, the world has witnessed a surge in pain, suffering, and systemic injustice inflicted by fellow humans in pursuit of power and monetary gain. Where I live, the people, their lands, and the cultures of the broader region are profoundly interconnected, and the weight of these struggles is evident in everyday life. I believe that all people have the right to live peacefully and freely, to follow their beliefs, and to love and be loved as they choose. As these fundamental rights come increasingly under attack by global power structures, this music was born from a place of resistance. It is a call to unity, a recognition of suffering, a gesture of hope, and a vision of a more just, peaceful, and beautiful world.”

James Wylie, June 2025

Tracks

01 To Our Land Pt1: Souls in a Cage 8:03 ; 02 To Our Land Pt2: Map of Absence 5:15 ; 03 To Our Land Pt3: Whose Freedom? 5:41 ; 04 To Our Land Pt4: In Memory 2:46 ; 05 Reflection on the Other 6:23 ; 06 (It’s only a) Dream 6:05

Personnel

Date featured

January 18, 2026

This song appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company. It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.