Ivo Neame – Moksha (Vinyl LP)

"Having lots of people play this intricate polyrhythmic music can be really emotionally powerful," says Neame. Taking inspiration from Phronesis' large ensemble projects, the compositions also played a didactic role, as a way of introducing newcomers to complex rhythmic structures. The pandemic flipped that idea on its head: faced with dwindling opportunities to hear these compositions live, Neame thought "'I'm just going to plough on regardless and record it all'." Composed, multi-tracked (Neame plays all the tutti sax lines), videoed, mixed and mastered remotely over the pandemic period, 'Glimpses of Truth' embraces the digital on a global scale, as Gilad Hekselman, Jim Hart and Ingrid Jensen appear alongside a stellar selection of UK musicians.

Neame stumbled across an article which claimed that 12 million Americans believe interstellar lizards run the United States. "I wanted to write a tune that would encourage people to wake up and question their beliefs" - 'Rise of the Lizard People' is what followed, immediately dropping you into Neame's world of pulsing rhythms and shifting feels.

The album finds Neame well equipped on his continued search for hard-fought truths.

Personnel: Ivo Neame (piano), Nathaniel Facey (alto saxophone), Ingrid Jensen, Noel Langley (trumpet), Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Jason Yarde (baritone saxophone), George Crowley (tenor saxophone), Trevor Mires (trombone), Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Jim Hart (vibraphone), Tom Farmer (double bass), James Maddren & Jon Scott (drums)

Press:

"Skilfully pieced together in uniquely difficult circumstances 'Glimpses Of Truth' is a triumph for Ivo Neame and must rank as one of the most outstanding releases of 2021." - ***** The Jazz Mann

"A fine piece of work." - ***** Kind of Jazz

"There have been some fascinating instances of isolated jazz artists' ingenuity in the pandemic era, but this wide-screen triumph by Ivo Neame is one of the standouts.' - **** Jazzwise

"A success on every level." **** All About Jazz

"A tour de force of lockdown woodshedding creativity with 'Glimpses of Truth', home-brewing an uncannily live-sounding virtual big band." - The Guardian

"The seven tunes are complex and shifting, evolving as the minutes fly by, solos pop up and then dissolve, backing riffs drift past as if on a rhythmic river with Neam's piano pinning it all together." - LondonJazz News

"The compositions are strong, thought provoking, and played to the highest standard." - SimplyJazzTalk

"A galaxy of post-bop-and-beyond virtuoso talent." - Marlbank

Side 1

• 1. The Rise Of The Lizard People
• 2. Phasing Song
• 3. Broken Brains

Side 2

• 4. Strega
• 5. Persevere Part 1
• 6. Persevere Part 2
• 7. Ghostly Figure