Release Date: 26 July 2013
Label: Whirlwind Recordings
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 610696501790
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Release Date: 26 July 2013
Label: Whirlwind Recordings
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 610696501790
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
'Paper Universe' finds saxophonist and composer George Crowley playing his colourful, characterful and melodic originals in the impressive company with peers and long-standing collaborators. Crowley and Kit Downes (piano) in particular have been playing together and making music regularly since the age of sixteen and have enjoyed a long musical friendship, on which the music of the quartet draws heavily. The remaining band members, Calum Gourlay (bass) and James Maddren (drums) are musical associates made at music college at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, where all four studied, while racking up countless hours honing their collective craft. The result of this history, therefore, is a high level of near telepathic communication and empathy in the music, as if they have been performing for decades, and one cannot stress enough how rare this is in debut albums.
The musical world of 'Paper Universe' is playful and unpretentious, but the songs themselves take the listener on a journey from gentle and lyrical plains through to the tempestuous and fiery realms of freer improvisation, to more straight ahead jazz playing, referencing an impressive range of influences, all maturely and fondly treated by this engaging quartet.
Personnel: George Crowley (tenor saxophone), Kit Downes (piano), Calum Gourlay (double bass), James Maddren (drums)