Completely worth your time and close attention 'Safe (Part 1)' is quite superb for its feel and compositional narrative development and is new this week from double bassist Daniel Casimir. There will be a new Casimir album later in the year but for now this track, with its AfroFuturist orchestral blend of strings, woodwind and brass that sits nicely alongside a Kamasi Washington-esque arranging approach, has drummer Moses Boyd; UK sax star of the moment Nubya Garcia on tenor who takes a terrific solo; upcoming trombonist Rosie Turton; pianist Al MacSween and trumpeter James Copus (who made such an impact last year on Dusk) with Casimir. The piece was inspired by Derek Owusu's SAFE: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space (2019) that included essays by Alex Holmes, Alex Wheatle, Aniefiok 'Neef' Ekpoudom and Courttia Newland. Casimir I rate very highly as a player having first heard his tonally rich approach inside drummer David Lyttle's trio at a small restaurant venue called Jazzeys in Enniskillen in 2015 and several months later when Casimir participated in the hard bop jam upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s. Six years on his progress on such work as 'Safe' has blossomed from several points of view, certainly as a leader and composer beyond his obvious instrumental prowess. This single is easily Daniel's best work to date without a shadow of a doubt but also check out 2017's fine 'Escapee'. SG
Tags: