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Winter draws in, days get darker, but this new release on the Gondwana imprint slips down like a mug of fresh coffee on a hangover. Laying their brick in the shining catalogue of this first-rate label, Ancient Infinity Orchestra's luxuriant, shimmering tone scores a compelling journey through atmospheric and harmonically diverse landscapes with a host of tuneful themes and superb solo performances. Conceived and reared in the vital creative hub of Leeds, in northern England, this 14-piece jazz outfit has existed since 2018 as a live band, much loved and revered by local fans and musicians. This record marks the Orchestra's debut full-length offering—a significant milestone and an impressive signing, to say the least.
A great strength of this ensemble is in the skill and character of its individual performers: the expressive capacity and technical proficiency of saxophonist and flautist Matt Cliffe; soulful, classically-informed oboe playing and composition from Khemi Shabazz; Hugh Vincent's fluid and impressionistic piano. Members of the AICC (Ancient and Infinite Community Choir) also feature on the record, brightening several of the tracks with warm, melodic chants and partly-improvised vocalisations.
Band director and lead composer Ozzy Moysey's creative chops shine especially brightly across River of Light, imbuing across the ten tracks a profoundly lucid manifestation of the album's title. Having written the album's eponymous track, Moysey "had a dream of a multi-coloured glowing river under a deep red and purple sky … golden river shapes [were] in the sky too." These images embed themselves deep within the makeup and texture of the pieces. Some elements transcend installments (the looping double bass riff, cascading flute and piano figures, anthemic choral melodies) while others—a beautiful mandolin feature on "Arc of the Sun"—are more fleeting. The continuity of some components, versus the impermanence of others, instils in the listener this feeling of being carried along by some invisible, embalming force; of being enveloped in a luminous, scintillating narrative that ebbs and flows through sprawling, diverse vistas, seemingly running its course far beyond the final bar's horizon.
There is a real sense of kismet in the combination of these performers and the music which they produce together. This debut firmly marks their place in the U.K. contemporary jazz organism, and will surely spur on bookings from all over. A fine catch from Gondwana. © Finn Kverndal/Qobuz
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Matthew Halsall, Producer - Tom Orrell, Producer - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Joel Stedman, Flute - Georgie Buchanan, Harp - Oliver Dover, Clarinet - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Matthew Halsall, Producer - Tom Orrell, Producer - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Bells - Joel Stedman, Flute - Georgie Buchanan, Harp - Oliver Dover, Flute - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Tambourine - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Georgie Buchanan, Choir, Harp - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Matthew Halsall, Producer - Tom Orrell, Producer - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Georgie Buchanan, Harp - Oliver Dover, Flute - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Conductor, Producer - Jake Rider, Composer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Composer, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Joel Stedman, Congas - Georgie Buchanan, Choir - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Oliver Dover, Flute - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Matt Cliffe, Cowbell - Joel Stedman, Flute, Congas - Georgie Buchanan, Choir, Harp - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Oliver Dover, Clarinet - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer, Percussion - Jake Rider, Percussion - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Conductor - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Tom Orrell, Producer - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Georgie Buchanan, Harp - Oliver Dover, Clarinet - Evan Rhodri Davies, Mandolin - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Joel Stedman, Flute - Georgie Buchanan, Choir, Harp - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Oliver Dover, Clarinet - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Michael Bardon, Cello - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Joel Stedman, Flute - Georgie Buchanan, Choir, Harp - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Oliver Dover, Clarinet - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Phil Smith, Choir - Matthew Halsall, Producer - Ruby Taylor, Choir - Tom Orrell, Producer - Harley Johnson, Choir - Hugh Vincent, Piano - Toma Sapir, Percussion - Isobel Jones, Choir - Adam Ash, Choir - Joel Stedman, Clarinet - Georgie Buchanan, Choir - Alex Bates, Choir - Rose Io, Choir - Evan Rhodri Davies, Violin - Ella Russell, Choir - Lau Ro, Choir - Ancient Infinity Orchestra, MainArtist - Ozzy Moysey, Composer, Conductor, Producer - John Arnesen, Drums - Khemi Shabazz, Oboe - Megan Jowett, Viola - Alice Spearman, Choir - Marwyn Grace, Choir - Kamran Amin, Choir - Ruben Aaronovitch-Bruce, Choir
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
Album review
Winter draws in, days get darker, but this new release on the Gondwana imprint slips down like a mug of fresh coffee on a hangover. Laying their brick in the shining catalogue of this first-rate label, Ancient Infinity Orchestra's luxuriant, shimmering tone scores a compelling journey through atmospheric and harmonically diverse landscapes with a host of tuneful themes and superb solo performances. Conceived and reared in the vital creative hub of Leeds, in northern England, this 14-piece jazz outfit has existed since 2018 as a live band, much loved and revered by local fans and musicians. This record marks the Orchestra's debut full-length offering—a significant milestone and an impressive signing, to say the least.
A great strength of this ensemble is in the skill and character of its individual performers: the expressive capacity and technical proficiency of saxophonist and flautist Matt Cliffe; soulful, classically-informed oboe playing and composition from Khemi Shabazz; Hugh Vincent's fluid and impressionistic piano. Members of the AICC (Ancient and Infinite Community Choir) also feature on the record, brightening several of the tracks with warm, melodic chants and partly-improvised vocalisations.
Band director and lead composer Ozzy Moysey's creative chops shine especially brightly across River of Light, imbuing across the ten tracks a profoundly lucid manifestation of the album's title. Having written the album's eponymous track, Moysey "had a dream of a multi-coloured glowing river under a deep red and purple sky … golden river shapes [were] in the sky too." These images embed themselves deep within the makeup and texture of the pieces. Some elements transcend installments (the looping double bass riff, cascading flute and piano figures, anthemic choral melodies) while others—a beautiful mandolin feature on "Arc of the Sun"—are more fleeting. The continuity of some components, versus the impermanence of others, instils in the listener this feeling of being carried along by some invisible, embalming force; of being enveloped in a luminous, scintillating narrative that ebbs and flows through sprawling, diverse vistas, seemingly running its course far beyond the final bar's horizon.
There is a real sense of kismet in the combination of these performers and the music which they produce together. This debut firmly marks their place in the U.K. contemporary jazz organism, and will surely spur on bookings from all over. A fine catch from Gondwana. © Finn Kverndal/Qobuz
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:15
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Ancient Infinity Orchestra
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Gondwana Records
- Genre: Jazz Contemporary Jazz
2023 Gondwana Records 2023 Gondwana Records
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