Track of the day: 'Withered' by Alfa Mist + UK tour coming up

Taken from the solo piano On My Ones to be released on 28 February all the songs were written and performed by Alfa Mist recording at London's Fieldgate Studio. It is approaching a year since Alfa Mist's last album Structuralism was released, the …

Published: 29 Jan 2020. Updated: 4 years.

Taken from the solo piano On My Ones to be released on 28 February all the songs were written and performed by Alfa Mist recording at London's Fieldgate Studio.

It is approaching a year since Alfa Mist's last album Structuralism was released, the pianist emerging in 2017 with Antiphon from a grime and hip-hop influenced background. Dilla and The Roots but also Miles, Monk and Avishai Cohen are among his inspirations.

The Londoner's most serious foray into jazz for sure this is more an ep than a full CD-length album in terms of length and is to be issued on 10-inch vinyl as well as via downloads. Other tracks are 'High Risk' (4:40 in length), 'Sorry' (3:07); 'L4' (2:19); 'Newham Village' (3:11); 'Amigo' (4:27).

'Withered' begins mournfully and then starts to shoot more optimistically allowing Alfa's right hand to draw out a far sunnier melody than might have hitherto been expected. The pervasive mood then settles into a poppy, quasi-romantic motif, Mist's left-hand keeping steady time before the layering begins in earnest. However, there is no real modulation and limited harmonic movement and yet this is more a performance built on strong themes that makes subtle shifts in mood. A secondary theme develops later that intertwines intuitively with the first and the shape of the composition has a satisfying logic to it.

There is a sense that a big improvisation is coming (it never does) but that is not Alfa's style at least on this piece and 'Withered' is more about decorating the main motific ideas than running the changes. That strategy is accomplished very well indeed, the style settling more into a Robert Glasper-like space in terms of the strength of the balladic effect achieved. My feeling is that this definitely seems like a more mature sound than every before. I am certainly looking forward to hearing the rest of the album. Let's hope some of the rest of the tracks go deeper harmonically and there is room for more improvisation. SG

On Sekito. Alfa Mist UK tour dates: Saturday 29 February, The Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool; Sunday 1 March, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; Tuesday 3 March EartH, London; Wednesday 4 March EartH, London; Thursday 5 March SWX, Bristol; Friday 6 March Brudenell Social Club, Leeds; Saturday 7 March SWG3 Glasgow.

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Oran Etkin, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London

From December 2015. Clarinettist Oran Etkin while channelling Benny Goodman in this “reimagining” show was not involving himself with anything as literal as actually playing the role of Benny Goodman in the manner of pastiche. This after all was not …

Published: 28 Jan 2020. Updated: 4 years.

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From December 2015. Clarinettist Oran Etkin while channelling Benny Goodman in this “reimagining” show was not involving himself with anything as literal as actually playing the role of Benny Goodman in the manner of pastiche.

This after all was not acting, and stylistically had a more modernist sensibility that some dusty tribute shows lack.

The first of his two-night stay at the Dean Street club, 2015 is 80 years on from the Palomar Ballroom Los Angeles residency that ushered in the Swing Era.

Etkin’s What’s New album captures a 21st century take on the thrill of the Goodman sound and the set list was based around the album.

Label mate singer Charenée Wade fresh from her Gil Scott-Heron triumph earlier this year came on for a few songs, not without an air of languid mischief on ‘Why Don’t You Do Right’; and the great vibist Steve Nelson also from the new Etkin record (also heard this year on Chris Potter Underground Orchestra’s Imaginary Cities) was vital in the modernist harmonies introduced, while the tasteful Helen Sung of the Mingus Big Band and drummer Ziv Ravitz from Shai Maestro’s trio completed this high-powered band.

The evening began with ‘What’s New’ title track of the new Motéma album, Etkin’s command of the upper register and up into the stratosphere beyond the normal scale and use of that ear-popping whine and leap of glissando makes you think above all of the groundbreaking creativity of Rhapsody in Blue.

‘Running Wild’ in Etkin’s hands is a romp, a world away from Some Like It Hot where movie fans absorb the song like mother’s milk but this was just as nutritious; while the “black national anthem” lightly renamed as ‘When Every Voice Shall Sing’ on this occasion on a damp Soho evening was as gentle as a Billy Taylor composition complete with a beautiful cadential figure from Sung at the end providing a big highlight.

Etkin switched to communicative bass clarinet for portions of the gig (sounding like soprano sax paradoxically) and dispelling the gloomy sound the instrument sometimes projects in lesser hands.

Standout Jelly Roll Morton tune ‘King Porter Stomp’ journeyed to the very creation of jazz that Goodman revived during the Swing Era decades on from its origins in New Orleans; and the reconfigured Etkin composition ‘Be Good Lady’ drew on the Gershwin classic ‘Lady Be Good’ adding another intrinsic part of the pluralistic pan-cultural mix that the album thrives on.

Etkin’s approach isn’t doggedly retro in the way that it could have been and that is to its massive credit although it is a respectful homage.

The playing is immaculate and Brooklyn-based Etkin responds well to the band, not lacking a stand-up bass player although Nelson had his work cut out as did Sung but vibes could have been even more demonstrative, Nelson one of the global masters of the instrument choosing restraint and cool presence throughout. Ravitz was more than active moving into frantic territory responding well to the stimulating wail and wang of the clarinet and the elegant skill of Wade’s vocals. SG

Helen Sung, top left, Oran Etkin and Steve Nelson at Pizza Express Jazz Club

Photo: Sabina Czajkowska