Riversphere Vol. 1 Iain Ballamy

• 1 Harmonique 03:40
• 2 Unresolved 04:29
• 3 Chimerical 03:24
• 4 Strange meeting 06:43
• 5 One for all 06:40
• 6 Retrato em branco e preto 08:10
• 7 Green in blue 05:49
• 8 Lost souls 05:03
• 9 Olha Maria 05:32
• 10 As time passes 07:04
• Total Runtime 56:34

Info for Riversphere Vol. 1

Iain Ballamy’s new album Riversphere (release 2nd November) is a fluid, textural exploration between improvisation and composition. Featuring performances by Rob Luft, Conor Chaplin, Corrie Dick, Laura Jurd and introducing Charlie Ballamy. Riversphere mirrors the endless cycles and movements of river ecosystems weaving together diverse musical influences into a seamless, organic whole.

Among the five compositions are a couple of Jobim’s: Retrato em Branco e Preto (Zingaro) stands out with Iain’s retelling of the hook and Rob’s reverberant long tones so much more questioning than Getz’s standard. Sharing similar ground is a version of Bill Frisell’s Strange Meeting where the main melody on sax fleetingly recalls an element of Leon Russell’s This Masquerade… The tradition is thus never far away, with Iain’s own Green In Blue deftly conjuring its Kind Of Blue precursor, though his sound here is maybe more Shorter than Coltrane. Either way, it feels like a deeply-felt personal statement, a gentle tour-de-force, as is the whole album. It certainly fulfills the ambition of exploring the relationship of, and the blurred lines between improvisation and composition. Rob contributes his inimitable full-breadth demonstration of what a guitar sound can stretch to, not least in Lost Souls and in the magisterial theme of his own composition As Time Passes, which closes and truly resolves the album water-ways.

Iain Ballamy, saxophone
Rob Luft, guitar
Conor Chaplin, double bass
Corrie Dick, drums
Guets:
Laura Jurd, trumpet
Charlie Ballamy, trumpet

Recorded by Sebastian Brice at Indefra studios, Frome and Mike Mower at Mower’s studio, Beckington
Mixed and mastered by Sebastian Brice
Produced by Iain Ballamy
Executive producers Oliver Weindling and Dan Messore

Iain Ballamy
is a key figure in contemporary European jazz with a distinctive musical voice merging avant-garde experimentation with accessible melodic sensibility.

Listed in the BBC's '100 Jazz Greats' between Count Basie and Chet Baker, Ballamy has been described as urbane, original, and uncompromising.

His work merges both strong jazz and classical references but remains un-encumbered by formality and tradition.

Significant partnerships include innovative big band Loose Tubes, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Django Bate's Human Chain, Anglo/ Norwegian duo ‘Food’.

Notable recordings as leader include debut album ‘Balloon Man’, the revered ‘All Men Amen’ and the fusion-oriented ‘Acme’.

Further acclaimed releases for ECM include 'Quiet inlet' by Food with Thomas Strønen, and 'Quercus' with folk singer June Tabor and pianist Huw Warren which masterfully blends folk and chamber music with improvisation.

Saxophone concerto premieres with major orchestras include BBC Philharmonic, Liverpool Philharmonic and London Sinfonietta.

Film writing credits include scores for Dave McKean's ‘Mirrormask’ and ‘Luna’.

As saxophone professor at Royal Academy of Music, RWCMD and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Ballamy has developed innovative approaches to teaching improvisation and composition.

Ballamy's musical essence combines improvisational spontaneity with a profound appreciation for harmony and form, creating performances that unfold with narrative purpose and emotional depth.

This album contains no booklet.