Daily jazz blog, Marlbank

Empirical to release their first album in 8 years

Welcome news this week that UK hard bop-and-beyond band Empirical will have a new album out in 2024, their first since 2016. Switching to the Whirlwind label guests on the album are pianist Jason Rebello and saxophonist Alex Hitchcock. Entitled …

Published: 10 Nov 2023. Updated: 8 months.

Welcome news this week that UK hard bop-and-beyond band Empirical will have a new album out in 2024, their first since 2016. Switching to the Whirlwind label guests on the album are pianist Jason Rebello and saxophonist Alex Hitchcock. Entitled Wonder is the Beginning the mid-March release will be issued on vinyl and CD as well as on digital formats. Empirical - Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), Tom Farmer (double bass), Lewis Wright (vibraphone) and Shaney Forbes (drums) - have always set high standards and it will be fascinating to hear what their next chapter after all this time away has in store. The band say: ''It’s been a special journey creating this music and we can’t wait for you all to hear it.''

Tags:

Dock in Absolute, [Re]Flekt, CAM Jazz ***1/2

Glossy, impeccable piano jazz from Luxembourg trio Dock In Absolute - pianist Jean-Philippe Koch can do vaulting, athletic runs just as much as he can, say on 'Sofia or 'Tears for Peace,' be tender and more introspective playing his own tunes. Bass …

Published: 9 Nov 2023. Updated: 8 months.

Next post

Glossy, impeccable piano jazz from Luxembourg trio Dock In Absolute - pianist Jean-Philippe Koch can do vaulting, athletic runs just as much as he can, say on 'Sofia or 'Tears for Peace,' be tender and more introspective playing his own tunes. Bass guitarist Arne Wiegand, particularly effective on 'Fragnolia,' and drummer Victor Kraus complete the band. 'Ascension' is the big tune on the album. If you are into trios like the Tingvall trio then Dock in Absolute fit more than well - they are a world away from your typical American jazz trio beholden a little too much to a huge tradition of piano trio jazz and are creating their own traditions to develop and finesse. [Re]Flekt can be listened to as sophisticated instrumental music without worrying too much about the jazz handle or indeed Dock in Absolute's place in that heady pantheon.