Ancient Infinity Orchestra – River of Light (2023) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Ancient Infinity Orchestra – River of Light (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:02:19 minutes | 1,22 GB | Genre: Contemporary Jazz, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Gondwana Records

Ancient Infinity Orchestra is a 14-member jazz ensemble led by double-bassist and composer Ozzy Moysey, based in the bustling creative city of Leeds in the North of England – home to one of the most innovative and community-based jazz scenes in the UK. Saxophonist Matt Cliffe who also performs with Matthew Halsall is a key member and the rotating line-up which includes drums, two bassists, keyboards, harp, violin, cello, two tenors, alto, oboe, flute and percussion. ‘River of Light’ drinks deep from the well of spiritual jazz and is especially inspired by the soulful sounds of Pharoah Sanders, Alice and John Coltrane but also channels a certain Northern sensibility that can be heard in the music of Matthew Halsall or Alabaster de Plume. Melodic, warm and honest this is music that is happy to wear its heart on its sleeve.Winter draws in, days get darker, but this new release on the Gondwana imprint slips down like a mug of fresh coffee on a hangover. Laying their brick in the shining catalogue of this first-rate label, Ancient Infinity Orchestra’s luxuriant, shimmering tone scores a compelling journey through atmospheric and harmonically diverse landscapes with a host of tuneful themes and superb solo performances. Conceived and reared in the vital creative hub of Leeds, in northern England, this 14-piece jazz outfit has existed since 2018 as a live band, much loved and revered by local fans and musicians. This record marks the Orchestra’s debut full-length offering—a significant milestone and an impressive signing, to say the least.

A great strength of this ensemble is in the skill and character of its individual performers: the expressive capacity and technical proficiency of saxophonist and flautist Matt Cliffe; soulful, classically-informed oboe playing and composition from Khemi Shabazz; Hugh Vincent’s fluid and impressionistic piano. Members of the AICC (Ancient and Infinite Community Choir) also feature on the record, brightening several of the tracks with warm, melodic chants and partly-improvised vocalisations.

Band director and lead composer Ozzy Moysey’s creative chops shine especially brightly across River of Light, imbuing across the ten tracks a profoundly lucid manifestation of the album’s title. Having written the album’s eponymous track, Moysey “had a dream of a multi-coloured glowing river under a deep red and purple sky … golden river shapes [were] in the sky too.” These images embed themselves deep within the makeup and texture of the pieces. Some elements transcend installments (the looping double bass riff, cascading flute and piano figures, anthemic choral melodies) while others—a beautiful mandolin feature on “Arc of the Sun”—are more fleeting. The continuity of some components, versus the impermanence of others, instils in the listener this feeling of being carried along by some invisible, embalming force; of being enveloped in a luminous, scintillating narrative that ebbs and flows through sprawling, diverse vistas, seemingly running its course far beyond the final bar’s horizon.

There is a real sense of kismet in the combination of these performers and the music which they produce together. This debut firmly marks their place in the U.K. contemporary jazz organism, and will surely spur on bookings from all over. A fine catch from Gondwana. – Finn Kverndal

Tracklist:

1-01. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Greeting (03:13)
1-02. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Rejoicing (06:29)
1-03. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Niyama (08:26)
1-04. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Michael & Zelah (03:46)
1-05. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Equanimity (08:33)
1-06. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Spring Break on Trappist-1 (06:20)
1-07. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Arc of the Sun (06:11)
1-08. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Love Song (05:34)
1-09. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – River of Light (07:54)
1-10. Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Pharoah Sings (05:49)

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