Mark Barrott’s musical journey continues to move forward. His curiosity and ambition seemingly unstoppable. Picking up, stepping on, from the choral, orchestral and deeply personal album, Everything Changes, Nothing Ends, Barrott’s latest EP is a collaboration with mother and son jazz luminaries, Norma Winstone and Leo Taylor. Winstone is a legendary vocalist, whose career, which began in the early `60s, has seen a close association with the equally legendary ECM label. A drummer, Taylor, while an in demand player and producer, might be best known for his groundbreaking work with Floating Points and The Invisible (1). 

The new release features 4 compositions, 3 of which, in keeping with jazz tradition, are vamps, variations on a theme. Opening with I Am The Stars, a shimmering modular synth drone, riding soft LFOs and coloured by unhurried Fender Rhodes, harp-like Solina String Ensemble sequences and glimpses of Jon Kenton’s bass clarinet. Where Winstone beautifully, breathlessly repeats, sighs the title (2). Together, here, I believe, they’ve created a timeless piece / peace, to rival sublime sunset classics, such as Sarah Vaughan’s Mystery Of Man.

I Am The Sun, You Are The Moon takes these elements and expands them, from something quiet, into an epic. Introducing Taylor’s swinging, super slick syncopation. Terrific trap drumming. Snares and cymbals crashing, cathartically, like surf, around Barrott’s delicate, dancing, ambient IDM details, Stefan Marietta’s French horn and Winifred Stein’s flute. A choir, and sweeping, romantic, autumnal orchestration – supplied by Julietta De Byrn, William Edwards, Rachel Fairchild and Michael Timmins – now accompanying Winstone’s angelic lead

I Am The Air, then returns to the subtly shifting serenity of Barrott’s solo keys, electronics and effects pedals. One of which is appropriately called “Bliss”.

My Blue Heart completes the set. A cinematic conversation between Barrott, trumpeter Shanti Jayasinha, saxophonist Ian East, and Winstone’s wordless improvisations, it summons scenes, not of sunset, looking out to sea, but, a little more urban, the sun rising over a sleeping city. 

The EP can be streamed, care of Anjunachill. There’s also a Bandcamp page where you can purchase the files. A super limited 7” is on the way. 

NOTES

(1) I absolutely love the track linked here, Wings. It reminds me, flashes me back, to AR Kane. 

(2) When Mark sent me this track, I was in the middle of a good few months where I’d been feeling extremely stressed. For a moment, at least, I immediately relaxed. That’s some fast working, good musical medicine.