sounding out scotland 2019

 

 

Sounding Out continues in summer 2019 visiting areas of Scotland. After a compulsory stop at Samye Ling, a much loved break in the trip for extended meditation and rituals, the journey continued through Dumfires and Galloway visiting areas unknown both by the sea and through forestry.

The odd explorations of stone towers with resonant cellars met my home made 2.4 shakuhachi, but the first significant experience of Sounding Out was in the artist town of Kirkcudbright where i found a small church hidden in the back streets. Its peaceful simplicity inspired a very melodic approach, gentle and elevated.

The pace picked up with the powerful energy of movement and change which i found in the area of Kilmartin. Walking along loch Awe was a wonderful experience of old pine forests and rushing water. Down in the valley, carved rocks mark an ancient spirituality and the church in the middle of the valley has retained some of the spirit. It is old and quite run down. Tourists ebb and flow, constantly drawing an energy of change and yet, there is something timeless here. In between visitors, the music flows freely to the bright resonance and spirals with the ancient art i have seen.

Moving now to the well loved scenery of the west coast, i return to Mallaig and find this lovely pink church open this time. I jump on the occasion and start playing to the background sounds of a steam train and children playing. This harbour town is simple but attractive. Well worth a visit just for the sense pleasure of freshly baked bread and a pizza lunch overlooking the water. The small chapel on the hill is similarly basic but very pretty. There is a playfulness here that inspires abstract extended techniques and angular harmonic flow. I move freely between modalities and mix sounds at times contemplative, at times firing fast.

 

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pastel prose
alto saxophone, 21 august 2019
st cuthbert, kirkcudbright

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in artist town
alto saxophone, 21 august 2019
st cuthbert, kirkcudbright

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spirals and cups
alto saxophone, 24 august 2019
kilmartin church

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amongst the peaks
alto saxophone, 24 august 2019
kilmartin church

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dance of the moving wheels
alto saxophone, 24 august 2019
kilmartin church

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a spot of pink on the cold hill
alto saxophone, 27 august 2019
st columba’s, mallaig

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steam train
alto saxophone, 27 august 2019
st columba’s, mallaig

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changing the scene
alto saxophone, 27 august 2019
st columba’s, mallaig

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Tête​-​à​-​tête

“each saxophonist works across divergent styles and genres, drawing down their own preferences to suit the individual structures of the moment and blending with each other and with the mood of the piece, such that one may be uncertain of the sound sources – free improv and folk or electro-experimental?  Each piece is a delight.“

Ken Cheetham, Jazzviews

 

Following a performance in Sheffield’s Over The Top in April 2019, the duo recorded a session with two alto saxophones. One take was captured at my nexttime studio and this is what you are hearing on this album.

Released by Emil’s label Noumenon, the music is pure energy between two sax improvisers who found themselves in a rather discursive mood. There is shear excitement at this first encounter as a duo that is felt in the music. One hour or so passed unnoticed, and we finished the session with a slower, sparse piece playing around single tones. it felt we were done. and in a single breath, we had an album.

We are delighted to share this with you. a document of a rare encounter. a slice in time of the playing of two compelling improvisers and saxophone wizards.

Thank you to Emil Karlsen for taking on this release. we sincerely hope you much enjoy listening.

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