15th January 2018: “Bain is always a vital driver behind the kit, ever engaged and urging his fellow players on... and as a composer brings a strong melodic sense to his tunes.” London Jazz on Andrew Bain’s ‘Embodied Hope’ in latest review round up.
New routes in musical exploration are at the heart of drummer Andrew Bain’s episodic suite, Embodied Hope – a project with pianist George Colligan, saxophonist Jon Irabagon and bassist Michael Janisch. An influential percussionist and educator based in Birmingham, England (and a first-call sideman both in the UK and the States), Bain’s own research has led him to study a concept which seeks to link improvisation with the increasingly topical issues of human rights, community and social transformation. Taking jazz as a metaphor for positive change in the world, and based on seven aspects – listening, surprise, accompaniment, practice, responsibility, trust and, ultimately, hope – this work is defined both by its distinct flexibility of expression and the quartet’s ongoing appraisal of what it progressively achieves.
Here are the latest press highlights for Embodied Hope (click the links for full reviews):
“Ingenious writing devices that bely Bain’s modest claim that he’s a writer of music for improvisors rather than a composer… An uplifting listen.”
Jazz Views (full review)
“His own [Bain’s] playing is a revelation as he combines power with detail and precision in a bright, busy, colourful and imaginative display behind the kit.”
★★★★ The Jazz Mann (full review)
“Bain is always a vital driver behind the kit, ever engaged and urging his fellow players on... and as a composer brings a strong melodic sense to his tunes.”
London Jazz (full review)
“Uplifting solos and mature musical dialogue from these top notch, virtuoso musicians.”
Jazzma (HU) (full review)
“Funky piano, paint-stripping tenor from Irabagon, sound bass (as ever) from Janisch and amazing drumming from Andrew Bain”
Bebop Spoken Here (full review)