Irreversible Entanglements, Protect Your Light, Impulse! ****

Grounded in a spiritual Coltranian sense in the undertow with spoken word poetry on top, black consciousness, meditational profundity is in significant Afrofurist quantity. Joining the core band of poet Camae Ayewa, bassist Luke Stewart, trumpeter …

Published: 1 Oct 2023. Updated: 7 months.

Grounded in a spiritual Coltranian sense in the undertow with spoken word poetry on top, black consciousness, meditational profundity is in significant Afrofurist quantity. Joining the core band of poet Camae Ayewa, bassist Luke Stewart, trumpeter Aquiles Navarro, saxophonist Keir Neuringer and drummer Tcheser Holmes are pianist Janice A. Lowe, cellist Lester St. Louis and vocalist Sovei. Irreversible Entanglements on this showing seem like an Art Ensemble of Chicago for our times and there is a deep sense of immersion virtually everwhere you listen here whether in sprawling group improvisation play dancing in and out of sonorous, serious, themes or when Ayewa becomes a compelling voice in the wilderness. It all certainly fits with the New Thing Impulse explorations of the 1960s and you get a sense of what goes around… comes around that will delight avant fans particularly. 'Our Land Back' is the pick of the tunes and one that again provides what this remarkable band do so very well: meaningful expression arrived at through group play and poetic intensity. One of the best albums this year.

The band return to play London this autumn appearing at the London Jazz Festival at Earth in Dalston on 15 November.

Irreversible Entanglements, photo: Piper Ferguson

Tags: Reviews

Saturday morning listen: Hiromi, Sonicwonderland, Concord ****

There's a new sound, or more to the point sounds from the great Japanese pianist Hiromi on Sonicwonderland signalled a little on 'Wanted' with its choppy reggae-like rhythms that quickly morph into a silky trumpet led anthem and that finds Adam …

Published: 30 Sep 2023. Updated: 7 months.

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There's a new sound, or more to the point sounds from the great Japanese pianist Hiromi on Sonicwonderland signalled a little on 'Wanted' with its choppy reggae-like rhythms that quickly morph into a silky trumpet led anthem and that finds Adam O'Farrill gelling well within the ensemble with his Randy Brecker-like sounds. Elsewhere the album does not forget the intimacy of balladry that the Japanese pianist taps into on 'Polaris'. And there is lit up bass contributions from Hadrien Feraud particularly at the start of 'Go Go' while drummer Gene Coye is a funky presence at times.

And fear not the extrovert piano sound we have all come to know Hiromi for isn't absent in a mix that spans jazz-funk and jazz-rock and is best caught on 'Up'. Certainly Hiromi has turned a corner here and shows she is unwilling to stand still and this band sound suits her more than well. The surprise element is the collaboration with singer songwriter Oli Rockberger who sings on 'Reminiscence' a song Hiromi co-wrote with Oli.Out on 6 October. Hiromi plays the London Jazz Festival on 13 November