The debut album for Leeds-based jazz band, Amon Ra Collective, ‘At The Centre Of Everything’ documents selected compositions and improvisations recorded within the last year.

Recorded in different sessions with a cast of talented musicians and engineers, the album will be released on the anniversary of the first recording. It takes listeners through moments of meditation between rocking baselines and fiery drum and bass, all the way up to intense heights of free improvisation. The album is inspired by the music of Miles Davis’ electric Jazz Fusion, John Coltrane’s Free Jazz and the spiritual world music of Don Cherry.

The Amon Ra Collective members are active and creative musicians in the Leeds and national music scene and have all been trained in the practice rooms of Leeds Conservatoire. Other groups the musicians on this record also belong to include Fergus Quill’s Imaginary Big Band, Ancient Infinity Orchestra (Gondwana), Nika Ticciati’s Cataclysm Ensemble, Afrodesia and Rushbonds.

昨年11月に「代官山・晴れたら空に豆まいて」で行われた初演が大評判となり、急遽今年２月に再演と相成った三宅純と青葉市子のライブ・セッション。その貴重なライブ音源が配信限定でリリース決定！　11月の初演時はドラムに山本達久を迎え、２月の再演ではそこに渡辺等も加わり、三宅と 青葉の楽曲に新たな生命が吹き込まれています。２日間計４回のステージからベスト・テイクをセレクションし、ライブでもPAを担当したエンジニアのzAkが、音源化にあたって丁寧なミックスを施しているのも聴きもの。話題のハイレゾ音源仕様なので、当日の空気感があたかも目の前によみがえるかのよう！
青葉市子 / Vocal, Guitar
三宅純 / Electric Piano, Flugelhorn
山本達久 / Drums
渡辺等 / Bass, Cello
zAk / Recording & Mixing

Recording date: Feb. 26th '84 to Sep. 5th '84.

Recording date: Apr. 27th '83 to Aug. 16th '83.

Since its inception, producer and composer Joe Acheson has carefully developed Hidden Orchestra from a simple initial project concept of ‘an imagined orchestra’ into something that has flourished into a widespan musical universe of its own, that is truly unlike anything else.
After multiple albums with respected independent label Tru Thoughts, continued support from the likes of The Guardian, BBC6Music, FIP, JazzFM, several awards for innovative soundtrack work intertwined with AI and consistent global touring of an energetic and intriguing live show featuring two duelling drummers, their reach and influence has swollen to make them one of the highest regarded names in independent music today and has even led to collaborations beyond the world of music, with The British Library, Kew Gardens and National Trust all enlisting Acheson for unique installation projects. Yet regardless of the current brief in front of him, the initial mission statement to ‘create electronic music with acoustic means’ remains.
Acheson achieves this task with aplomb, conjuring intricate yet expansive worlds of sound, built in collaboration with a select core of talented musicians, combined with Acheson’s bespoke samples, field recordings, and carefully honed composition and arrangement sensibilities. Detail and craftsmanship are at the core of everything he does, even musically directing a diverse array of instrumentalists to capture unique samples of both improvised and scored nature. This ingenious approach really sets his work apart from the crowd and allows Acheson’s artistic vision to come to life exactly as intended.
While new album ‘To Dream is to Forget’ certainly maintains this mission statement, it does also bring about a sea change for the project on a few fronts. Released via Acheson’s own newly formed Lone Figures imprint, the musical direction for the record involved a concerted effort to condense musical themes and ideas into more immediate arrangements, with less utilisation of field recordings than previously released material.
Predominantly sticking to this ethos has indeed meant an average track length reduction throughout, however there is still the same high level of musicality and no shortage of ideas within this rich collection of 10 original tracks.
A familiar cast of contributors return - with long term members Jamie Graham (drums), Tim Lane (drums), and Poppy Ackroyd (violin) all present, alongside newer personnel - Jack McNeill (clarinet) and Rebecca Knight (cello) all helping to realise Acheson’s musical vision.
The album title is taken from a line by Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa - “No one tires of dreaming, because to dream is to forget, and forgetting does not weigh on us, it is a dreamless sleep throughout which we remain awake.”
And this seems an apt calling card for a collection that draws influence from a fantastic and diverse array of places. Musically at any given point you are as likely to hear sounds akin to Max Cooper or Four Tet as you are Stravinsky, Debussy, and Ravel.
With the idea of ‘reimagining’ playing a key role in the creation of the project, this track leans into the overarching concept and nature of dreams reworking everyday experience into new subconscious stories…

Confirming his status as one of the leading improvisers on the European scene, the Finnish trumpeter releases a new album featuring Kit Downes, Jasper Høiby, Olavi Louhivuori and co-produced by Tuomo Prättälä.

Renowned Finnish jazz trumpet player, Verneri Pohjola, is set to release his much-awaited album ‘Monkey Mind’ in November 2023. Collaborating with celebrated musicians Jasper Hoiby, Kit Downes, and Olavi Louhivuori. With an innovative style and dynamic playing, he effortlessly fuses traditional and modern elements to create a captivating and distinct sound, Monkey Mind will solidify his position as a premier artist in the European Jazz scene. Verneri's previous albums and electrifying live performances have garnered widespread acclaim, establishing him as one of the most talented jazz musicians of his generation - a vital album from a true European jazz virtuoso.

On his second Blue Note outing and fifth album overall, drummer Johnathan Blake pays tribute to his late father, violin trailblazer John Blake Jr., who composed the title track. There are other dedicatees as well: the solo drum intro “Lament for Lo” is for fellow drummer Lawrence Leathers, who died at 37 in 2019; and “Tears I Cannot Hide” honors its influential composer, the late Ralph Peterson Jr., who recorded it on his 2002 album Subliminal Seduction. Blake’s reading is a waltz, faster in tempo than the original, with warm Fender Rhodes coloring the elegant harmonies.
Blake’s vehicle is a jaw-dropping quintet called Pentad, with alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, pianist David Virelles, and bassist Dezron Douglas. We get to hear Virelles in a trio setting on his own “Tiempos,” and the quartet with Ross’ vibes as lead melodic voice on “Out of Sight, Out of Mind,” one of a handful of Blake originals. Douglas gets the spotlight on his funky composition “A Slight Taste.” Almost like a tearjerker movie ending, “West Berkley St.” concludes with a montage of voicemail messages from Blake the father to Blake the son. He’s just checking in, saying hello, with love and caring fully audible in his voice.