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Orbiting somewhere between the interplanetary funk of Sun Ra and the cinematic experimentation of Floating Points lies the new album Earth from the spiritually awakened Brit-jazz collective Emanative.
Led by drummer and producer Nick Woodmansey, Emanative have created a cosmic strand of multi-cultural UK jazz with African, Indian and Middle Eastern influences unlike any other act on the UK scene. Following on from their previous record on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood label back in 2015, Earth celebrates the diverse backgrounds of it’s galaxy of contributors, which includes Idris Ackamoor of US spiritual jazz legends The Pyramids, Afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi (previously of Fela Kuti’s Africa 80), key protagonist from Manchester's jazz scene Nat Birchall, India-raised Ninja Tune artist and Shabaka Hutchings-collaborator Sarathy Korwar, Ibibio Sound Machine player Ben Hadwen, Benjamin Page from RocketNumberNine, The Heliocentrics’ Malcolm Catto and Flying Lotus collaborator Ahu.
Initially Emanative was an output for Woodmansey’s more beat-led productions which he began releasing in 2008. Over the course of a decade and a multitude of singles and three full-length albums, the project has morphed – emanated – into a collaborative, jazz-influenced, outward-facing globally-inspired collective. 2015’s The Light Years of the Darkness album release was a key turning point and a record that saw Woodmansey work with a stellar cast of contributors featuring amongst others Keiran Hebden aka Four Tet and trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah. All profits went to the Steve Reid Foundation, a charity which Gilles Peterson set up of which Woodmansey is a trustee – all in the name of the legendary jazz-drummer to help musicians in crisis as well as to support new talent.
Born in 1975 and growing up in Sussex, music was part of Nick’s life from an early age as his dad Mick ('Woody') Woodmansey was the drummer with Bowie’s Spiders from Mars. His father instilled in him a life-long passion in drums, teaching him the basics. Plans to go to art college were shelved after he moved to London in 1991, squatting in Dalston, and esconsing himself in the London music scene. A few years later Woodmansey took a 12-month gig playing drums on a cruise ship, before returning to the UK and spending the next decade playing on the London scene in various projects whilst raising a family – it was there he decided to go it alone and so in 2006 Emanative was official.
The Earth record encouraged Nick to delve deeper into his spirituality: “When you work with guys like Ahmed and Idris (Ackamoor), spiritual people, their vibe, attitude rubs off on you”, he opines. “I’m not religious but I an very spiritual: my perspective on life is less materialistic, more humanitarian. It’s important to see both the negative and the positive in life – but a spiritual perspective is inherently positive – you look for the good in things”. Nick’s spirituality is intertwined with his musicianship yet he is quick to point out that “the rest of the band are not necessarily on the same planet as me!”
“I remember reading something Sun Ra said that has stuck with me. For most cultures and tribes music is not about the technical quality but it’s about expression, communication and the joy of playing. For me it’s about the vibe rather than technical perfection - if it sounds good, it is good".
1 Dawn Child (Sunrise) “The album has a cyclic form – this track represents the album’s birth and grew from an improvisation by sarod player William”
2 Heaven's Mirror feat. Idris Ackamoor (saxophone & flutes) & David Molina (flutes) of The Pyramids “Inspired by author Graham Hancock and his writings about lost civilizations and the connection between constellations, sacred sites and holy places. On this track we connect Egypt, Ethiopia, Thailand, Mexico and South America”
3 Ìyáàmi feat Dele Sosimi (vocals) Dele: “This is for motherhood, my physical mother, mother Earth, mother nature… our irreplaceable, priceless jewels.”
4 Spice Routes feat Nat Birchall (saxophone) “An improvised groove based session that had influences from Africa, Middle East and Asia – hence the title.”
5 Sandhyavandanam “Sandhyavandanam is one of the oldest prayers or ceremonies in world religion with a ritual performed three times a day. This track begins like a prayer, building up with a meditative flow. It encapsulates what the album is about.”
6 Egosystem (Solar Noon) “A reflection of what’s happening in the world right now”
7 Reflection feat feat Nat Birchall (saxophone) & Liz Elensky (vocals) Nat is one of the UK’s iconic deep-jazz musicians. "Whilst recording he was leafing through a book on Sun Ra - where he talked about intentionally getting his musicians to play loose and out of time, and that provided suitable inspiration - and the perfect loose groove”
8 New Day feat Ahu (vocals) “The forthcoming single release, an upbeat positive and spiritual groove"
9 Heaven's Mirror (Reprise) “The track is built around a metronomic synth pulse by Ben from RocketNumberNine”
10 Minute's To Midnight For This Planet
“The title is taken from Sun Ra poetry/ philosophy - along with Don Cherry, Pharaoh Sanders and Afro-jazz musicians such as Johhny Dyani - he is one of my main influences”
11 Raga Requiem (Dusk) “Science tells us ‘dead means dead’, religion preaches heaven. hell, afterlife and everlasting spirits. Polar opposites leaving us floating...”
Emanative are: Nick Woodmansey: drums, percussion, balafon, Jessica Lauren: piano, vox continental organ, Ben Hadwen: bass clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, Tamar Osborn: barritone saxophone, flute, Suman Joshi: upright bass, Sarathy Korwar: percussion, table, Vince Vella: percussion: Phillip Harper: percussion |
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