The 15th jazz album from Welsh pianist and composer Geoff Eales is a record full of original compositions, bursting with pianistic creativity, emotionally charged vocals and instrumental and stylistic diversity.
After a successful collaboration with Eales on Transience in 2016 vocalist Brigitte Beraha is back, filling the album with her powerful vocals. However, this time round, Beraha is not alone: singers Jacqui Hicks, Jenny Howe and Brenda Ford also feature, making for a rich and broad palette. Each vocalist has an opportunity to shine, and on tracks such as The Deal, Love Not Meant To Be and Song For My Mother, the singers passionately and skilfully capture the essence of Eales lyrics.
The record successfully merges a wide range of styles: Feather Light has a Latin groove which hints at Chick Corea and Love, Sacred And Profane features asymmetrical rhythms which are reminiscent of Eastern European folk music. The track Frazzled definitely deserves a mention: possibly not to everyone’s taste, it allows the musicians to truly let go and let their imaginations run wild, with dissonant off-beat riffs mixed with extreme free-wheeling improvisation.
The Saga of Salome is almost operatic and recitative in style, perhaps due to Eales’ experience within opera. The Final Twist is similarly reminiscent of musical theatre. The framing tracks, the Prologue and Epilogue, include references to classical masterpieces such as Debussy’s Danse Sacrée and Danse Profane.
Stylistic experimentation is at the heart of this record. Expressive vocals are supported by playful interjections from the instrumentalists, notably drummer Sophie Alloway and bassist Matt Ridley. Eales’ exemplary pianism radiates through the set: he adapts to the style of each track and supports each musician, whilst still adding his soulful touch.
Discography
Prologue; The Sword; The Deal; Frazzled; Feather Light; Love Not Meant To Be; Love Sacred And Profane; Song For My Mother; The Saga Of Salome; Road To Damascus; O Virtus Sapientiae; The Final Twist; Epilogue (57.00)
Collectively: Eales (p, org); Brigitte Beraha, Brenda Ford, Jacqui Hicks, Jenny Howe (v); Mark Lockheart (ss); Ben Waghorn (as, ss, bcl); Jason Yarde (as); Andy Findon (f); Carl Orr (g); Shirley Smart (clo); Matt Ridley (b); Sophie Alloway (d). Buckinghamshire, 2022.
33 JAZZ 290
