Tom Skinner – Voices of Bishara (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 27:29 minutes | 286 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Brownswood Recordings
For over two decades, Tom Skinner’s luminous musical talents have prospered and blossomed in London’s vibrant underground. Whether it be collaborating with such untouchables as Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood in their band, The Smile, or his exploits with Sons of Kemet (which split up earlier this year), co founded alongside friends Oren Marshall, Seb Rochford and Shabaka Hutchings, the 42 year-old drummer is enjoying a period of remarkable productivity. Voices of Bishara caps off a fantastic year for the artist, assuredly demonstrating his immense technical and creative capacity. This is also his first album signed under his birth name, which surely aligns with the words from his release statement: ’this record is an attempt to put something truthful into the world, through collaboration and community, at a time of rising dishonesty and disinformation.’His chosen collaborators are staples among his past ensembles: the likes of Tom Herbert, Nubya Garcia, Kareem Dayes and Shabaka Hutchings. Brought together by Skinner for a Played Twice session at Dalston’s Brilliant Corners, the group were tasked with improvising a response to Tony Williams’ Life Time. Voices of Bishara is largely built upon the music which transpired that night, frequently borrowing phrases and riffs from the reference album and launching them on a wildly different trajectory. No more evident is this than on ‘Bishara’, which quotes the opening of the Williams album, but quickly morphs into its own beast, as virtuosity intensifies and Hutchings joins Skinner in an impetuous free-jazz frenzy. Reference to Life Time is again made in ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, where the extracted motif is gently teased in and then distorted uniquely by each part within the texture—all underpinned by Skinner’s organic and capricious percussion. Herbert’s acoustic bass sets the pace for ‘Quiet as It’s Kept’ – a rosy jazz waltz which concludes with an introspective chorale between the wind players. It’s a fitting end to what is surely an inventive, rousing solo début. Bravo, Mr. Skinner. – Finn Kverndal
Tracklist:
1-01. Tom Skinner – Bishara (05:37)
1-02. Tom Skinner – Red 2 (02:57)
1-03. Tom Skinner – The Journey (05:01)
1-04. Tom Skinner – The Day After Tomorrow (04:59)
1-05. Tom Skinner – Voices (Of the Past) (04:50)
1-06. Tom Skinner – Quiet as It’s Kept (04:03)
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