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John Ellis: Evolution - Seeds and Streams
by Phil Barnes
There's a temptation to assume with evolution that all of history has been leading to this point, that today's dominant species or situation will continue as such forever. Nonsense of course, think of the changes in the lifetimes of current generations and it's clear that evolution is not a defined end point but a dynamic, continuing ...
Nat Birchall: Creation
by Phil Barnes
Coming less than a year after the 2015 release Invocations on Henley's Jazzman records, Creation finds Nat Birchall back on his own Sound Soul and Spirit label. Long term collaborator Adam Fairhall on piano, and Johnny Hunter on drums are retained from that record and we welcome back Andy Hay as a second drummer, last heard ...
Eve Risser White Desert Orchestra: Les Deux Versants Se Regardent
by Phil Barnes
Space in jazz, in the musical rather than the science fiction sense, is a difficult thing to pull off effectively. Miles Davis may well have said “don't play what's there, play what's not there" but Mr Davis said a lot of things including “if you don't know what to play, play nothing." Its like talking quietly--if ...
Henrik Jensen's Followed By Thirteen: Henrik Jensen's Followed by Thirteen: Blackwater
by Phil Barnes
What does it mean to be 'Followed by Thirteen'? It immediately conjures pictures of some cold war spy thriller--Orson Welles in Greene's “The Third Man," Matt Damon in the Bourne films maybe, as the protagonist is followed by shadowy agents through decaying European cities in defence of unspecified freedoms. Good though it is, it seems unlikely ...
Miguel Angelo Quartet: Miguel Angelo Quarteto: A Vida de X
by Phil Barnes
Neither life nor jazz is simple or linear. On any given event there are multiple possible interpretations and perspectives--some will stand up to scrutiny others will not. At its most extreme there is the entitled trickster who shouts of their integrity even as they rob you in their consummate selfishness, but sometimes it is just that ...
Neil Cowley Trio: Spacebound Apes
by Phil Barnes
The impact of ambition and competitiveness in a creative pursuit can be double edged. As a spur to action, an attempt to fulfil potential it is surely a positive--think of the mutual admiration and competition between say Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney in the mid-1960s for example. But there are times when a competitive nature can ...
Erica Bramham: Twelve Moons
by Phil Barnes
A song cycle that uses the months of the Czech/Slavic calendar as a compositional starting point is not the sort of subject matter we usually see from modern jazz singer-songwriters. Yet on this marvelous debut album Erica Bramham has used that unlikely theme as a starting point for her poetic lyrics, giving the collection a satisfying ...
Jasper Høiby: Fellow Creatures
by Phil Barnes
Creativity is an unpredictable beast, yesterday's inspiration can soon turn stale, evaporating with the morning dew if not carefully cultivated and attended to. That idea that was once so exciting can easily become a well-worn rut, or even a trap, into which the unwary can fall. Bassist Jasper Hoiby, a third of Phronesis, appears to recognise ...
Mammal Hands: Floa
by Phil Barnes
Mammal Hands debut album Animalia from autumn 2014 impressed with its emphasis on the overall collective effect over solo pyrotechnics, a choice that perfectly complemented the build and release of tension in the music. Of course in a trio set up the contributions of each member are always discernible and the twist of substituting Jordan Smart's ...
Matthew Halsall: Matthew Halsall: On the Go (Special Edition)
by Phil Barnes
Slipping under the radar this low-key reissue of Matthew Halsall's classic 2011 album should not be ignored. Why so? Well rather than just tweak the tapes for a first vinyl issue Halsall, who it appears was not completely happy with the original mix, has taken the opportunity to commission a full remix and remaster by George ...
