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John Bailey: Oneiric Sounds
ByBailey has assembled a collective of eleven members for Oneiric Sounds with the most noteworthy members being saxophonist Julian Argüelles and bassist Arild Andersen. Both figure prominently in bringing Bailey's work to fruition. Other group members include brass player Richard Iles, Tim France on tenor saxophone, bassist Garry Jackson, and a string section of Simon Chalk, Mark Chivers and Nick Stringfellow. Argüelles and Andersen do not play together but are divided across the two seven-track, untitled suites and drummers Eryl Roberts and Richard Kass are respectively assigned to the same two sections.
The first suite is highly orchestrated with "The Large Turf," "Human Trap" and "Oneiric I" all demonstrating Bailey's strong link to classical music. "Grize Dale" is essentially a duet between Bailey and Andersen though the strings rematerialize in a less than welcoming manner. "Durer's Vision," as noted in Bailey's press material, is influenced by the sixteenth-century painter Albrecht Durer. "You Be The Wolf" ends the first suite with the lively atmosphere of a carnival and an outstanding Andersen solo. "White Day" opens the second suite with a distinctly jazzier feel, thanks to the interplay of Argüelles and Bailey. Similarly, the moody "Shivering Sky" gets a boost from Iles solo fluegelhorn performance. "Feelings In Dusk" demonstrates an excellent balance between Bailey's preferred genres.
Oneiric Sounds is as much two albums as it is two suites. The first half is steeped in classicalism andperhaps a bit too oftendominated by the strings that push some of the pieces to the brink of treacle. The more jazz-oriented final seven selections benefit not only from the ornamental colorations of Argüelles' sprightly, escalating soprano but also from Eryl Roberts' driving percussion. The musicianship throughout the album is first-rate but, at times, too much and too often.
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John Bailey
CD/LP/Track Review
Karl Ackermann
Oneiric Sounds
Outhøuse Records
Julian Arguelles
Arild Andersen