Tom Skinner – Voices of Bishara (Live at “mu”) (2024) [FLAC 24bit/44,1kHz]

Tom Skinner – Voices of Bishara (Live at “mu”) (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:10:57 minutes | 704 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Brownswood Recordings

In January 2023, Tom Skinner and his ensemble performed material from his recently-released album ‘Voices of Bishara’ (Brownswood, IARC & Nonesuch, 2022) at London club “mu”— a venue founded by the curators at Brilliant Corners and named after the seminal Don Cherry live album. Their performance was augmented by three pieces by Abdul Wadud, whose 1977 self-released solo cello album, By Myself, was a primary inspiration for Voices of Bishara.

The woodwinds featured on Skinner’s original Voices of Bishara album — Shabaka Hutchings and Nubya Garcia — had already been replaced in Skinner’s live ensemble with Robert Stillman (who also plays with Skinner in The Smile) and Chelsea Carmichael; with the extended rhythm section of Tom Herbert (double bass) and Kareem Dayes (cello) still rounding out the lineup with Skinner on drums.

From the opening moments of Voices of Bishara Live at “mu”, which was recorded on that legendary January 2023 night, it’s clear that this band’s aim is to excavate the deep corners of the repertoire, kicking things off with an extended rendition of Skinner’s own composition “Bishara” that employs the same relationship to rhythmic and tonal freedom found in the Abdul Wadud cello work that inspired it. That aesthetic connection is even more clear by the time the group moves into their 20-minute exploration of Wadud’s “Oasis,” the stunning centerpiece of the set that culminates with a scorching 5+ minute sax solo by Carmichael.

Hearing Skinner’s compositions – flexed and stretched with extended improvisation, and in context with works by Wadud – both places them and this band firmly in the creative music continuum they honor, and provides us with an unobstructed view of where that continuum is leading us.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:

01. Tom Skinner – Bishara (Live) (15:05)
02. Tom Skinner – Red 2 (Live) (05:19)
03. Tom Skinner – The Journey (Live) (07:49)
04. Tom Skinner – The Day After Tomorrow (Live) (05:56)
05. Tom Skinner – Oasis (Live) (20:17)
06. Tom Skinner – Camille (Live) (07:50)
07. Tom Skinner – Happiness (Live) (08:38)

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