Emily
Wright (vocals); Nick Malcolm (trumpet); Dale Hambridge (piano); Will Harris
(bass);
Mark
Whitlam (drums); special guests Jason Yarde (alto sax); Dan Moore (Hammond
organ).
(Review by Ann Alex).
I
absolutely loved this CD, with its influences of world and folk music, free
improvised ‘feel’ in many places, tuneful sweet singing, a certain dream-like
quality, skilled instrumentation, yet still showing an unmistakable jazz
element, and don’t ask me to define that last fact technically – I just know
that it’s jazz. This is the band’s debut CD but they are known to audiences at
the likes of Brecon Jazz Festival, and listeners to BBC Radio 3 and BBC 6
Music, so they are making a name for themselves in the UK jazz scene.
The
mixture of songs is eclectic, written by all 5 band members, with lyrics by
Wright, except for the title track (a poem by Robert Browning) and a version of
John Masefield’s Sea Fever, which has
a haunting spaced out tune by John Ireland. There are also re-interpretations
of the music of Calvin Harris (I’m Not
Alone) and the Isley Brothers (not clear which track this is).
For
instance, Meeting At Night starts
with a free improvisation sound on trumpet, then comes a jazzier alto sax from
Jason Yarde, wordless singing and then trumpet and sax blend well to
finish. Yarde also plays on the track Views, which can be best described as
impressionistic music. Silence Is Here, which was inspired by
the Wright family’s garden, shows the dream-like element, whilst I’m Not Alone is very evocative with the
oft repeated lyrics: ‘If I see a light flashing, could be that I’m coming home,
If I see a man waving, does this mean I’m not alone?’.
The
titles of the other tracks are Clouds;
Trio; Desire For Nothing Known; From My Window; Arthur’s Dance. These
titles give listeners an idea of the dreamy, other-worldly quality of the
music.
The
CD will be released on October 2, 2015. See www.moonlightsavingtime.co.uk
Ann Alex
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