Last month saxophonist Phil Bancroftreleased two albums on his new label – and streaming service – Myriad Streams. The first is a reissue of his 2004 quartet CD, Headlong, with international stars Mike Walker on guitar, Reid Anderson (of the Bad Plus) on bass and Thomas Strønen on drums; the second, a duet album, Birth and Death, recorded in 2018 with percussionist Gyan Singh.
Headlong was originally released on the Scottish jazz label Caber, and had been unavailable for some time. Its re-release is therefore welcome: it is music that deserves to be heard. The four musicians improvise with a lot of freedom, some pieces, such as Double Trouble and Goes Around Comes Around, are freer than others. From the opening track Golden Section, a feeling of space permeates the record. Some tracks feel impressionistic and open, others follow a clear tune and structure.
The four musicians work together well: there is a sense of balance throughout the record. All of them play with a lightness of touch, which gives the music a relaxed mood.
Birth & Death naturally differs, not least because it features only two musicians, but there are many similarities which become apparent when these records are listened to one after the other, not least the openness and the relaxed feel.
Bancroft had played with Singh when visiting Delhi and when Singh subsequently travelled to Scotland. While Singh was again in Scotland to play with Bancroft’s brother, Tom’s band In Common, Bancroft and Singh took the opportunity to record together, producing the improvised tracks On First Meeting Part 1 and Part 2.
Bancroft travelled to India a few months later, when the remaining four tracks were recorded.
Accompanied by a drone, Bancroft plays tenor and soprano saxophones and a low whistle, with Singh playing tabla, kajira and shakers. Together, the effect is mesmerising.
Both musicians are adept at fusing styles, and their cross-cultural dialogue pays dividends. The music feels rooted in both Indian and western traditions, and for his part Bancroft brings together aspects of jazz and Celtic musics as well as eastern. His low whistle playing on Anita and Al’s Wedding is evocative of the Scottish tradition while his soprano on Bird conjures thoughts of highland pipes – while both maintain a connection to south Asia.
Patrick Hadfield lives in Edinburgh, occasionally takes photographs, and sometimes blogs at On the Beat.
LINKS : Available from BandCamp and Myriad Streams
