Joshua Jaswon Octet: Silent Sea

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The inspiration for London-born saxophonist and composer Joshua Jaswon’s debut album was one of pure poetry. As he explains: “the nucleus of the project first took shape when I read a collection of twenty contemporary poems by Carol Ann Duffy which were published in The Guardian as part of their 2015 Keep It In The Ground campaign.”

This gave Jaswon the opportunity to combine themes that resonated with him in order to move beyond abstract music making. Each of the album’s compositions is based on the text of a contemporary British poem by writers Jackie Kay, Maura Dooley and Rachel Boast and deal with subjects such as climate change and Brexit.

Jaswon, who now lives in Berlin, left Britain as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union in 2016. He graduated from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a first-class honours degree in Jazz Performance, collecting awards throughout his three years at the college. This culminated in his winning a scholarship to the prestigious European Jazz Masters Course in Berlin. He’s performed as a sideman or bandleader at festivals and concerts in Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin and London and judging by the quality of this recording, his star is very much in the ascendant.

The arrangements are taut and finely constructed throughout and the lyricism of the melodies is enhanced by the Dutch vocalist Anna Serierse, whose essential contributions exude lithe elegance. German trombonist Jan Landowski offers some vibrant, fluid solos on Still Life With Sea Pinks And High Tide, Pt. 1 and Maurice. Jaswon himself is no mean altoist as is evidenced by his solos on Still Life With Sea Pinks And High Tide, Pt. 2 and Interlude 1.

For a first album, replete with memorable riff-rich numbers, Silent Sea is masterly and considering he’s a relative newbie, Jaswon’s compositional ability demonstrates a maturity well beyond his years.

Discography
Maurice – Reduce/Reuse/Recycle: Suite; Silent Sea; Interlude 1; Extinction; Interlude 2; Still Life With Sea Pinks And High Tide, Pt. 1; Still Life With Sea Pinks And High Tide, Pt. 2; Silent Sea Reprise; Single Versions: Extinction; Still Life With Sea Pinks And High Tide; Silent Sea (71.09)
Anna Serierse (v); Joshua Jaswon (as, ss); Marc Doffey (ts, ss); Miguel Gorodi (t, flh); Jan Landowski (tb); Johannes Mann (elg); Sidney Werner (b); Aaron Castrillo (d). Berlin, 21 August 2019.
Ubuntu Music UBU0065

Review overview
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joshua-jaswon-octet-silent-seaFor a first album, replete with memorable riff-rich numbers, Silent Sea is masterly and considering he’s a relative newbie, Jaswon’s compositional ability demonstrates a maturity well beyond his years.