I didn’t know Andrew MacKelvie before coming across this exceptional release. I will not forget his name now. The saxophonist and composer handles contemporary jazz, on the free side, even psychedelic, with considerable energy, as well as contemporary classical, groove, and rock.
Many Worlds betrays all these influences through an absolutely brilliant outburst of energy, originality, and authenticity. The guy seems connected to his visceral self, haunted by the memory of an accident that nearly cost him his life in 2012.
The abstraction of his instrumental writing remains completely lyrical and especially firmly rooted in rhythm, sometimes motoric, and elegant groove. We are thus invited to enter ecstatic, psychedelic soundscapes. We find ourselves bathed in metamorphic colours but also in a feeling of happiness induced by music that is anything but cerebral. On the contrary, it is surprisingly welcoming, warmly organic, and intuitive. MacKelvie takes full advantage of a well-stocked octet (including a euphonium and a harp), to which four guest musicians are added. He therefore has the luxury of choosing from a wide range of textures and timbral blends.
Many Worlds is a fiercely inventive album. Strongly recommended.
Andrew MacKelvie – alto & soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
Jackson Fairfax-Perry – tenor saxophone, synth
Andrew Jackson – trombone
Tom Richards – trombone, euphonium, keyboard
Ellen Gibling – harp, clapping
Ross Burns – guitar, clapping, tambourine
Gabriella Ciurcovich – bass
Doug Cameron – drums, clapping , percussion
with:
Aquakultre aka. Lance Sampson – voice (track 5)
Meghan Gilhespy – voice + effects (track 4, 5, 7)
Zoe Leger – voice (track 4, 5, 7)
Michael Cloud Duguay – circuit-bent melodica (track 1, 7)
