Corrie Dick: Sun Swells

Corrie Dick is a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded on drums, piano, vocals, synth, guitar, and trumpet. As a composer, Dick is known for his dynamism, his melodic slant, and his playfully subversive melding of genres. Presenting his sonically inventive drumming, which has a rhythmic epicenter of a new era of innovative British jazz, is Dick's release Sun Swells . The album's theme is to create a folk-rock-jazz with rock instrumentation and color by Rob Luft on guitar and Tom McCredie on bass. Rounding out the ensemble is Laura Jurd on trumpet and Rebecka Edlund on vocals.

"Fingers Full of Meaning" is the core sound representing what Dick was going for with the rock influence. Luft uses distortion on his guitar sound to get an aggressive edge to it, and the rock genre also influences the composition's rhythmic structures. Dick's drumming is bold while still providing a solid foundation. McCredie's bass sound is full and also toned with a rock edge. The composition develops a series of motifs through multiple layers to create a strong song pushing the jazz genre.

"The River" has an island feel that is messed with folk overtones. The addition of saxophone and organ fill out the ensemble textures. The composition is structured to flow like a journey with a live interpretation, as the spacey lyricism verges on the folk side while splitting the influences between genres. Dick's playing is imaginative and sensitive to the players around him while still being interactive. His complex rhythmic structure never fights the music but instead elevates and inspires.

Sun Swells is an exciting album which shows Dick's dynamism, melodic compositional style, and ability to cross genres while maintaining a jazz aesthetic successfully.