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Pat Thomas: Nur. Solo piano 1999
ByNur is Thomas's second solo CD. It is in complete contrast to his first, New Jazz Jungle: Remembering, which featured a typically radical amalgam of jazz and jungle, using electronics and beats. Although both albums feature Thomas alone, similarities end there.
On this album, Thomas plays unadorned solo acoustic piano, and the music was improvised from start to finish. The recording dates from a concert given in the chapel at Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education, which had both a Steinway grand piano and great acoustics. The concert took place in December 1999. Significantly, given that Thomas follows Islam, this was during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and reflection. The combination of all these factorsthe instrument, the setting, the timingcontributes to a reflective and spiritual mood. Anyone familiar with Thomas's electronic playing is likely to be surprised by his music here. There is little of his knockabout humour. (I particularly recall a version of "Uptown Top Ranking" that he and Coxhill belted out live at Spitz some years ago.) Instead, these are pieces that do not play to the gallery, but have an overarching logic and structure to them. Thomas pays tribute to Monk in "The Analogy" and, throughout, there is something of Monk in Thomas's playing. It is not possible to pin it down preciselybeyond "feel"but it is there.
Aficionados of Thomas will relish this broadening and deepening of his work. Newcomers can just enjoy some fine original piano playing.
Track Listing
Nur; Mubarak; Variation on two themes; The Analogy
Personnel
Pat Thomas
pianoPat Thomas, piano
Album information
Title: Nur. Solo piano 1999 | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Emanem
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