Asha Parkinson: Possession

Possession, the debut album from Asha Parkinson, builds substantially on her previous 28-minute mini-album release. Parkinson composed and arranged the words and music, which as a theme explore the concept of possession. The innovative music has its roots in jazz with classical and Eastern Mediterranean influences.

Parkinson displays considerable ambition, strong principles, cultural awareness and talent. Having graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2020, she plays in various ensembles, including the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. She has created several projects, including Voices Beyond Division (for which she won an award for her humanitarian work) and a suite with Arab women poets. She plays soprano, alto and tenor saxophones on this album and leads her Kalpadruma ensemble. This 14-piece mini studio orchestra combines a jazz quintet, string quartet, woodwind, voice and qanun (a zither-like traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument).

The album opens with "Urban Fantasy." This track, which reflects the energy of city life, dates from her time at the Guildhall and it is her skill as an arranger that catches the attention as the piece swirls and pulses with differing instruments coming to the fore for brief moments. Her sax gradually gains prominence before pianist Alex WilsonUK briefly takes over. Bassist Hamish Nockles-Moore and drummer Alex Taylor provide a strong foundation, allowing the string quartet and woodwind to entwine before guitarist Charlie Heywood's guitar closes.

"Distant Devotion" has lyrics adapted from Rumi's poetry. Swedish singer Rebecka Edlund provides the vocals. The clarity of her voice carries over the gentle backing, which constantly changes without intruding. Guest Gareth Lockrane brings an inventive flute solo as the track swells. His fine flute work alongside Parkinson's sax also stands out in the splendidly arranged finish to the Eastern European folky swing of "Mirror Image."

The title track explores compulsion via a Czechoslovakian folktale. Edlund shows her vocal range in a song that verges on a show-tune structure, nestled in a complex arrangement which involves sax exploration, Heywood's guitar and Konstantinos Glynos' qanun. Parkinson again shows her skills as an arranger in the two instrumental tracks that follow. She creatively blends the string quartet into the ensemble as they drive "The Juggler" alongside some adept flute from Meera Maharaj, while "Maelstrom" serves to highlight Parkinson's sax playing alongside combinations from Heywood, Nockles-Moore and Glynos.

Parkinson delivers some fine sax work on "There" as she combines with Wilson's piano. "Our Father (Avvon D'Bishmaiya)" is a composition based on the original Lord's Prayer in Aramaic. Edlund handles the vocal well alongside sensitive strings, qanun and sax. "Permanent Verse" sets up a groove and uses a speech from Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee before building in intensity with solos from Simeon May's baritone sax and Christie Smith's trumpet which take flight beside Parkinson's sax as they close out the album.

Taking her inspiration from poetry and stories, Parkinson has established a distinctive compositional pathway. Her sophisticated arrangements, unpredictable melodies and inventive sax phrases are full of ideas and meticulous details. The members of the Kalpadruma ensemble display their virtuosity and seamlessly meld musical genres to make this a successful group venture and a solid platform for future development.

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