The Karman Line
Description
Building on the success of *Work Money Death*, *The Flying Hats* and *The Library Archives: Volume 4*, ATA Records is proud to present *The Karman Line* by the Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble.
When musicians are on tour, conversations naturally turn to music. Two years ago, whilst exploring Tokyo’s jazz bars and record shops, wind instrument maestro Chip Whickham and Neil Innes, the brains behind ATA and a bassist, discussed their shared influences: Yusef Lateef, David Axelrod and Alice Coltrane.
The seeds of a new project were sown, and soon seven tracks of deep, spiritual and rhythmic jazz were recorded.
The album offers varied atmospheres, whilst sharing a sense of respect and exploration. On ‘Karmen Cantala’ and ‘All Is’, Chip’s flute soars and rises, carried by a dreamlike harp and waves of impressionistic piano. Low Orbit explores a funkier direction, with Steve Parry’s brass arrangements (notably the unusual instrumentation of bassoon, horn and tuba) evoking 1970s Quincy Jones and the laid-back style of Archie Shepp’s Mama Too Tight.
Celestial Matari and Molecules recall the cosmic, fluid sounds of Joe Henderson and Alice Coltrane’s masterpiece, The Elements, whilst Earthly Elements is resolutely grounded. Carried by a powerful bass line and a rich array of percussion, Chips’s flute becomes more hoarse, raw and insistent, drawing inspiration from Yusef Lateef’s Psychicemotus and Roland Kirk’s Blacknuss.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Tracklist
A2 Alto Vento
A3 Low Orbit
A4 All Is
B1 Celestial Matari
B2 Earthly Elements
B3 Molecules
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