REVIEWS
'Lighthouse' point the way by Bill Bruford
Date: 14.02.2012
Those interested in state of the art acoustic fusion - and Lighthouse may have to forgive me for using the ‘f’ word - need look no further than this highly-skilled UK jazz trio. Comprising two ex-Earthworkers, pianist Gwilym Simcock and bass clarinet /saxophonist Tim Garland, the group is completed with the exciting Israeli-born Asaf Sirkis on drums. Lighthouse is positioned where I would have liked to have positioned Earthworks were the old ship still afloat, and had I the imagination, composing chops and a hang-drum, so there is a strong connection between the two groups on many levels.
One of the most interesting developments in adult rock and jazz has been the movement away from ‘notes’ and towards textures, timbres and treatments (see recent blog on 01.12.2011). Those who eschew that area and deal in the simpler, older acoustic realm of melody and harmony may appear, in relief, somewhat old-fashioned. Before their recent gig at the 606 Club in London’s Chelsea, I was a whisker apprehensive. Was this going to be a note-a-thon? They use a lot of notes, certainly, and some chords you can’t spell, but any concern I may have had in that respect evaporated with the sheer small-room velocity and dynamic hard-ball of the trio.
Their strengths are both compositional and improvisational. The compositions - particularly Garland’s ‘One Morning’ and Simcock’s ‘Barber’s Blues’ - inspired by a Samuel Barber piece he struggled with as a student at the elite Chetham's School of Music in Manchester UK - are beginning to adopt the episodic form of small classical miniatures from which at any minute might leap a fully orchestrated movement for large ensemble. All three are world class improvisors.
It’s not hard to see why Sirkis’ is in much demand in this environment. His kit - mirroring the compositional aspect of the group - abandons much of jazz’ standard legacy. Gone are toms, snare drum and sticks, replaced by three frame drums, hang-drum, bass Udu struck with hands or light egg-whisk beater-like items called Blaststicks or Hot Rods. He’s only got to fall over this instrument to sound different. Sirkis is a master at multi-metre intensity at pianissimo dynamic; his frame-drum sound is exotic and connected to another place and from another time. His touch is light; alternately fire and air. The mellifluous timbre of the hang-drum is exactly the sort of sound I was trying to extract from my reluctant electronic kit two decades ago. His understated support on the Welsh song Tawel Nawr was a master-class in rubato playing.
The absence of bass is a voluntary constraint presumably adopted on musical grounds. My sense was that Simcock, although prodigiously equipped with technical facility to deal with any constraints, felt too often that he had to provide the sort of lower-end support traditionally assigned the bass, to the detriment of a sense of unhurried melodic and harmonic development that he’s so good at when that function is adequately taken care of. Garland’s bass clarinet occasionally stepped in to provide superb growling support, but I’m an old-fashioned guy who loves an old-fashioned bass.
I never write about bands if I can possibly resist putting finger to keyboard. Lighthouse are irresistible. Hunt down their April release on the ACT label - called simply ‘Lighthouse’ - at www.jazzcds.co.uk or one of those amazon-type places. www.triolighthouse.com
Bill Bruford
SIMCOCK/GARLAND/SIRKIS - LIGHTHOUSE REVIEWS
17/05/2012 John Fordham. The Guardian 4 stars**** |
Economics makes long-term jazz lineups rarities, and opportunities to follow evolving relationships in this open and participatory music don't come that often. Lighthouse is an exception. UK saxophonist and composer Tim Garland formed it to play his own music more than seven years ago, but its young pianist Gwilym Simcock has since emerged as a world-class jazz star, and in the process transformed the dynamics of this trio.
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16/05/2012 Stephen Graham, Jazzwise |
Lighthouse might have been together for some eight years but this excellent showing made it all seem brand new. No one’s going to crash on any rocks with these three around.
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02/05/2012 Allaboutjazz |
It was ACT's second showcase that would prove to be not just a highlight of their afternoon, or the day, but of the entire Jazzahead! Together, Simcock, Garland and Sirkis embody the best qualities of virtuosity, lyricism and empathic interaction, making Lighthouse already one of the year's best releases and their performance at Jazzahead! 2012 a brief teaser for what they must be like in a proper concert hall with a complete program.
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21/04/2012 The Guardian |
A European contemporary-jazz supergroup, the trio of former Chick Corea, saxophonist Tim Garland, dazzling pianist Gwilym Simcock and resourceful world-music drummer Asaf Sirkis tours with a new repertoire and a new album.
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23/04/2012 Kultur News 5 stars***** |
Jazz CD of the Month |
23/03/2012 Alyn Shipton, Jazzwise 4 stars**** |
Three musicians at the top of their game having fun and sharing it with us |
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15/05/2012 Dave Gelly, The Observer 4 Stars**** |
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| Three remarkable musicians with an uncanny unity of thought and feeling. Virtuosity may be taken for granted nowadays, but this music demands it. The pin-point accuracy, the long, constantly evolving melodies, the variety of moods and textures are simply breathtaking. Gwilym Simcock, now 31, was being hailed as a phenomenon while still a piano student at the Royal Academy, where Tim Garland was one of his teachers. No wonder that the piano and saxophone lines often seem to come from the same mind. Asaf Sirkis has evolved a whole new array of percussion to complete this outstanding trio. |
14/04/2012 Mike Hobart, Financial Times |
| Intricate, atmospheric and tightly argued with sound-sensitive drummer Asaf Sirkis a perfect binding agent. |
13/04/2012 The Guardian |
| the soloing is eloquent and at times thrilling, with Garland's gentle slurs glowing through the slow pieces, Simcock's imperious drive igniting the fast ones, and drummer Asaf Sirkis sounding like a percussion choir all by himself. |
REVIEWS OF LIBRA
“Sure –footed virtuosity, a dazzling standard”
The Times
“This is the sort of music you need to sink into. Spacious, rhapsodic and packed with gorgeous textures. [Garland’s] playing is phenomenal but it’s his talent for creating something unique out of diverse musical idioms that makes him such an adventurous and impressive composer.”
The Observer
“One of the finest achievements in British jazz for some considerable time. If there is any justice in the world, every jazz fan in the country should buy a copy of this album. A minor masterpiece.” Jazzwise****
“The imagination of Tim Garland... ranges from across far more territory than most jazz players assume is rightfully theirs....Rhapsodic.” The Guardian****
“An early favourite for this year’s BBC Jazz Awards. Great.” The Times****
“...a jawdropping musical tourdeforce...The marriage of jazz and classical music has never sounded so harmonious.” Record Collector
"A fine demonstration of Garland's growing range as a composer, brilliantly married to the instrumental wizardry of the drummer Asaf Sirkis and pianist Gwilym Simcock.” The Times
“Garland’s great strength is his ability to finetune his broad central theme the merger of musical traditions. His saxophone style balances the tonal purities of the classical tradition with the multiphonic fluidity of fusion jazz. Ethereal.” The Financial Times live review ***
“Resplendent... stirringly bold” Metro
“The latest chapter in a fascinating journey for Garland. Deft, exciting, uplifting music. Quite possibly the finest album by a British musician in recent times.” Jazzwise front cover feature
“Here be art” The Independent on Sunday
“Garland’s most rounded statement to date, Libra is a masterpiece by any standards” All About Jazz
“One of the most compelling, affecting and adroit saxophonists... a ravishing saxophone sound which combines the tonal beauty of Stan Getz with the emotional directness of Johnny Hodges. Strongly recommended” The Vortex
“There is no one who can more convincingly unite the jazz and European classical idioms. Garland’s sheer virtuosity is breathtaking” The Observer
“Libra is something else. A masterfully mature piece of work that would be hard to better.” Eastern Daily Press*****
“Dazzling playing from all members of the trio. A triumph” The Jazzmann online live review
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