Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Temple Block Sustain
On recent releases we've seen local jazz musicians pull from the spiritual quests of people like John and Coltrane, Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders (Lucien Johnson's highly recommended Wax///Wane and Ancient Relics albums) and those leaning towards the Latin American direction (Julien Dyne and Cameron Allen's on-going Circling Sun project).
There have been those around Jeff Henderson confidently in the free jazz zone – some also appearing with those already mentioned – and others striking out on a very individual direction (Ron Samsom and friends on Session 23).
The Clear Path Ensemble have steered a rewardingly unpredictable course through funk, Latin shuffle, out-there jazz, ambience and electronica.
With random needle drops you could be in the region of 1970s Weather Report or a funk band on Soul Train.
On this, their third and more dialed-down album in five years (and there's a remix collection in there too), the ensemble lead by multi-instrumentalist Cory Champion also bring in something of that West Coast cool school of the late Fifties/early Sixties where Latin and Afro-Cuban influences come into play, as on Calypso and the effervescent Best Life with flute and percussion.
Here they seduce you in with the delicate, flute-enhanced From Winds and the slowly swelling arrangement on Temple Block Sustain with Champion's vibes, which are frequently to the fore here: Cascade d'Arts delivers a minimalist percussion and vibes rhythm.
Black Sand is a carefully measured and restrained album for the Clear Path Ensemble this time around, and a lovely companion for downtime.
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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here
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