07/02/10

WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS ALL OUR EMAIL ACCOUNTS. WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE. PLEASE BEAR WITH US WHILE WE RESOLVE THIS SITUATION.

THANKS,

GONDWANA

 

26/10/09

Our Third Release!!!

Last year Matthew Halsall’s debut album ‘Sending My Love’ planted him firmly on the UK jazz map, with a release which earned him praise across the board. Solid airplay from Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson (the album figured in his top 40 albums of 2008), Stuart Maconie (BBC 6 Music), Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and Mike Chadwick (Jazz FM) amongst others, culminated in a Maida Vale session for 6 Music. Halsall’s expressive playing style and compositions, rooted deep in the spiritual jazz tradition, combined with subtle arrangements and respectful production, led to the release becoming something far greater than just the sum of its parts - more than simply a debut from a skilled, young player – ‘Sending My Love’ offered a welcome return to form for UK jazz – it even grabbed the attention of Nitin Sawhney, and led to the pair collaborating in a week long session.

A committed performer and restless musician, Halsall now returns with his second full length album ‘Colour Yes’ delivering six brand new compositions. This time around Matthew recruited the talents of Nat Birchall (sax), Adam Fairhall (piano), Gavin Barras (bass), Gaz Hughes (drums), Marek Dorcik (drums) and Rachael Gladwin (harp) – the groups impeccable performances under Halsall’s direction, deliver yet another consistent and often brilliant release, authentic in every which way. The effortless swing of title track and album opener ‘Colour Yes’, really defines what it is about Halsall’s vision of jazz that gives him the upper hand; this is timeless music, it owes nothing to the past – sure, there are comparison points, but all lead to music which is indeed, already classic. An undeniable clarity is present throughout, themes are balanced and already sounding fully road-tested.

'Together' is a transcendental modal ballad which fuels the spirit of Stan Tracey's 'Starless and Bible Black' and Neil Ardley's 'Shades Of Blue' as performed by Don Rendell and Ian Carr's Quintet. Utterly beautiful. ‘I’ve Found Joy’ and 'Mudita' are the jazz dance features that will be a hit with the Sleepwalker and Soil & Pimp crowd; the spacial rhythm section play like Bill Evan's classic trios on ‘I’ve Been Here Before’, where the space between the notes almost mean as much as the notes themselves. This not only shows a great respect for the past masters of modal exploration but makes a bold step forward to re-establish 'British jazz' as a vital music as much in 2009 as it was in the mid 1960's. The addition of Rachael Gladwin’s harp brings a sense of liquidity to the
band, take it as read that Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane are honoured forebears. By the close of this fine second Matthew Halsall album, the authoritative drive of this band truly seems to have transmitted to a whole new astral plane.

 

GONDCD003 - Matthew Halsall - Colour Yes

Colour Yes All compositions by Matthew Halsall Buy the album from our shop here

 

 

19/03/09

Our Second Release!!!

Our second release is by Nat Birchall who celebrates 30 years of playing the saxophone. During that time he has been quietly working on his craft, slowly but surely progressing towards a style and concept that best communicates his view of the universe.

Initially inspired by the great horn men of Jamaica, people like Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook and Cedric Brooks, Nat found his way into the music of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and the whole world of Jazz, before finding his own voice on his instrument.

Along the way he has played in many different musical situations, playing Turkish Folk/Jazz with percussionist Akay Temiz, forming the ground-breaking “Corner Crew” which experimented with elements of Jazz and Hip Hop, and the heavy Roots Reggae of Dubdadda. Nat’s quintet, “The Sixth Sense” made his debut CD of the same name in 1999. The album was well received and was one of Jazzwise magazine’s editor’s CDs of the year, earning a 4 star review.

Unusually amongst UK musicians, Nat’s sound and concept has been favourably compared to John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and Charles Lloyd. Nat currently plays in Matthew Halsall’s adventurous groups, appearing on his “Sending My Love” CD, as well as performing with Arun Ghosh’s Indo-Jazz ensemble, Jon Thorne’s Oedipus Mingus and guitarist Gary Boyle’s quartet.

Fans of John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Yusef Lateef, Sleep Walker, Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd will appreciate where Nat is coming from.

 

GONDCD002 - Nat Birchall - Akhenaten

Akhenaten All compositions by Nat Birchall Buy the album from our shop here

 

 

01/09/08

Our First Release!!!!

Our first release is by 24 year old Mancunian jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, DJ and producer Matthew Halsall. Halsall picked up the trumpet at just 6 years old after being taken to a jazz gig by his parents. From the age of 13 Matt has toured the world playing in France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Holland, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Australia and America as well as doing extensive UK tours. He currently holds recidencies at Matt & Phreds Jazz Club in Manchester, Djangos Riff in Liverpool and The Hifi Club in Leeds.

His album has already received Gilles Peterson airplay and mad love on BBC Radio 1 Worldwide and this week Matt is recording a Freakzone live session at Maida Vale for Stuart Maconie’s show on BBC 6 Music to coincide with the album’s release. Other airplay includes Tom Robinson’s show’s on BBC 6 Music and Mike Chadwick’s show’s on Jazz FM.

Quote:

"A real pleasant surprise of the last few weeks of picking up music. A beautiful 5-track album…you know I’m always happy when I can find some new jazz, something fresh, new players, new generations, holding the flame, keeping it alight…new music from Matthew Halsall from Manchester, album called Sending My Love... " – Gilles Peterson.

Review:

A really incredible album -- a set that's filled with far more soul and feeling than you might guess from the youthful image on the cover! Matthew Halsall's a pretty young player, but his sound here is really amazing -- not just on his own trumpet solos, but on the overall feel of the album -- which is beautifully composed, and put together with a sense of spirit that takes us back to Strata East at its most sophisticated in the 70s! There's a really beautiful balance here -- ambition in the writing that recalls other UK efforts from The Heritage Orchestra or Nostalgia 77 Octet -- but an execution that's much leaner overall, deeply personal lines played by a relatively small combo -- quintet formation on all numbers, featuring Halsall's trumpet alongside great reedwork on soprano sax, flute, alto, and tenor -- supported by soaring rhythms on piano, bass, and drums -- all handled with the majesty of an early 70s McCoy Tyner album, or some of the other great modally-inspired work of the American post-Coltrane generation. Tremendous stuff throughout -- a record that held us rapt from start to finish -- with 5 original compositions that include "On The Other Side Of The World", "Reflections", "Freedom Song", "Sending My Love", and "Sachi". © 1996-2008, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

The album is set for a worldwide release on Gondwana Records on Monday 6th October 2008 and will be available from this website!!!

 

GONDCD001 - Matthew Halsall - Sending My Love

Sending My Love All compositions by Matthew Halsall Buy the album from our shop here