Shadowlands (Robin Fincker, Lauren Kinsella, Package Downes) – Ombres
(Budapest Music Centre Data BMC CD 327. Album overview by Jon Turney)

The PR sheet tells us this recording “combines folks and modern music within the spirit of European jazz”, and the trio concerned are splendidly nicely outfitted to try this. French-born saxophonist Robin Finker joins long-time keyboard collaborator Package Downes to supply drummerless settings for Lauren Kinsella’s wondrously diverse renditions of 9 songs, recorded reside in Budapest early final 12 months.

What the mixture of kinds they will draw on produces is intriguingly diverse from observe to trace.

Opener Demise and the Girl begins virtually as a straight presentation of a folks music, the centuries-old lyric entrance and centre, however the anxiously fluttering saxophone atmospherics and Downes drifting organ chords add a eager edge to the desolation of the lyric. By the final strains Finker is sounding the saxophone keys with out breath, as if the loss of life the music foretells has simply occurred.

The remedy, which remembers Downes work with Lucia Cadotsch, is typical of the aptness of the settings the trio conjure for every music. Fagradalsfjall, named for one in all Iceland’s extra lively volcanoes,begins with trio improvisation, Kinsella displaying her straightforward command of prolonged vocal approach, earlier than shifting into wordless unison, the eruption maybe quiet for now.

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Roll on Buddy, which follows, has thickened, gospelly saxophone tones and rolling, declamatory acoustic piano urging alongside Kinsella’s nonetheless melancholic voice. One other outdated music, Georgie, strikes nearer to Quercus territory, with pure-toned clarinet and piano highlighting the lyric, though Kinsella’s vocal register could be very totally different to the darker frequencies of equally distinctive June Tabor.

These and the opposite 5 songs all mix emotional intelligence with moments of piercing magnificence and pleasing musical surprises. The trio members dwell in three totally different international locations so this is probably not a daily collaboration, however it might be tremendous to listen to extra songs – historical or modern – rethought and refreshed in the way in which they handle to deliver off right here.

Jon Turney writes about jazz, and different issues, from Bristol – jonturney.wordpress.com

LINK: Shadowlands at BMC