Julien Durand – Dreamscapes
(On-line EP overview by Tony Dudley-Evans)

Julien Durand is a French-Chinese language guitarist who leads a powerful quintet, Dreamscapes,  that has in its line up 4 different rising stars on the British up to date jazz scene, vocalist Lucy-Anne Daniels, saxophonist George Garford, pianist + keyboards Cenk Esen and drummer Jonno Gaze.  

Durand studied on the jazz course on the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire the place, like so lots of the Birmingham graduates, he was uncovered to the rigours and disciplines of the bop and submit bop traditions in addition to the number of up to date jazz and improvised music that may be heard within the metropolis.  After commencement Durand spent three months in Brazil finding out composition with Toninho Horta, Daniel Santiago and Guinga.

All these influences come collectively within the music of Dreamscapes. The music strikes between ambient opening passages led by Durand’s delicate guitar to excessive octane ensemble passages that includes the vocals of Daniels and the saxophone of Garford, all pushed by Gaze’s drums, to free-er improvised passages with Esen on keys.

Of the three tracks, the opener Daybreak Of The Birds begins with bird-like sounds on the guitar and alto sax earlier than shifting into a robust joyful melody, after which right into a freely improvised passage.  Lucy within the Sky options Daniels, alternating between main with the phrases of the track and integrating wordlessly with the ensemble.  Strider opens with Durand’s guitar earlier than shifting into a horny ensemble passage to which Daniels contributes wordlessly; this in flip leads right into a passage during which Garford performs a excessive vitality solo over accompaniment from the ensemble.

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LINK: Dreamscapes is obtainable from Julian Durand’s web site
Launch date is eighteen January