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Jamie Safir has performed with an array of notable acts that include Kyle Minogue, Emma
Smith, Jamie Cullum, Annie Lennox and Claire Martin, amongst others. But, as he
explained, “I’ve been writing, recording and performing properly for 15 years …
but I was never the artist; I was never the focus.” This makes Momentism
something of a watershed moment for Safir in that it is not just his first
outing as band leader but the songs he has recorded are all originals. All the numbers
are his own compositions apart from Amethyst which was co-composed with
Emma Smith. Momentism also sees Safir reunited with Iain Ballamy for the
first time since their collaboration with Ian Shaw on What’s New. Ballamy plays
on five of the tracks, as indicated by * in the track listing.
The album opens with the title track Momentism,
a gentle waltz with a distinct classical feel and a lyrical Bill Evans
flavoured interlude. It sets the scene for much of the music on the album with its
strong emphasis on melody. Boulevardier follows, a slow smoky blues
number with piano and sax duetting and harmonising with sympathetic tumbling
drums from Luke Tomlinson. Another slow blues number, Duke Balington, features
Ballamy developing a twisting melody and firing flurries of notes before
duetting with Safir on the main tune.
Amethyst and Black Star Sapphire (dedicated to Billy Strayhorn) are mood
pieces with a drifting, dreamy feel and a late-night vibe, particularly in the
latter number.
A couple of numbers are distinctly upbeat. On Hirsuit
Pursuit, after leading in on the main theme, Safir is comping behind energetic
solos from Conor Chaplin and Luke Tomlinson. Clocker has a Latin
feel with the drums flying along, pushing the rhythm and working the ride
cymbal behind Jamie and Iain. After the brightness of Clocker, the pace of the music
slows. The World In The Evening has a strong but spare theme where the
piano notes have space to sing out. Mad Sad Bad picks up an
introspective, melancholic theme with Iain Ballamy contributing a lovely
breathy sax solo in keeping with the mood. The final track, Esprit D’Escalier
is a solo piano piece with its slow, lyrical melody, full of emotion that ends with
single notes dying away at the end of the music.
Momentism is a fine recording with a strong melodic pulse that comes across as a very personal statement. Safir’s compositions encompass such marvellously delicate and emotive playing. John McGloin
1. Momentism (3.29); 2. Boulevardier* (4.52); 3. Zacharius*
(3.28); 4. Hirsute Pursuit (5.45); 5. Amethyst (5.21); 6. Duke Balington*
(5.08); 7. Black Star Sapphire (5.05); 8. Clocker* (4.43); 9. The World In The
Evening (4.50); 10. Mad Sad Bad* (6.00); 11. Esprit D’Escalier (2.33)
Released 04.09.2026 on Chill Tone Records CT0009
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