Freedom

LElectronic jazz pioneer, pianist, producer, re-mixer Mark de Clive-Lowe has anenvious reputation as a cross genre creative artist who blends acoustic,electronic and world music exploring themes of belonging and identity. Equalparts jazz, house, hip hop and broken beat artist, Jazziz summed him upperfectly - "way before jazz hybridity became a worldwide phenomenon, deClive-Lowe was busy designing its blueprint.”
Freedom is a live concert recording made at the Blue Whale, Los Angeles -where Mark put together a Los Angeles based collective made up by veryaccomplished and suitably talented Teodross Avery – saxophone, CorbinJones - bass, souzaphone drummer Tommaso Cappellato Carlos Nino –percussion and the highly renowned spiritual jazz vocalist Dwight Trible.
Reinterpreting a set of Pharoah Sanders highly respected music is not for thecreatively timid, and Mark himself sets out the approach and philosophy thiscollective took when approaching this project: “This album is a celebration ofthe music, joy and spirit that the great master-teacher Pharoah Sandersbrings to the world through his lifelong creative journey. We gathered at LosAngeles’ Blue Whale jazz club to perform some of our favorite Pharoahcompositions from a place of love, respect and gratitude for all the inspirationhe’s brought to each of us. No one can play this music how Pharoah plays it -his expression is unique and imprinted on every one of his compositions inthe deepest of ways. We can’t possibly improve on his mastery and share thismusic simply as a heartfelt thank you to Pharoah - we celebrate you, and areso grateful for all the timeless - and timely - music you have gifted to theworld”.
Across this 12 track album the unique approach of improvised jazz isembellished with MDCL’s tasteful and subtle touches of electronica played &triggered – from behind his array of equipment he reinvigorates andenergises the music with a deft and tasteful approach and the interplaybetween the musicians including vocalist Dwight Trible is flawless and moreakin to a extensively rehearsed studio recording than a live concert, such arethe skills of all the players.
The highlights are many and varied, from the delicate, sensitive MansionsWorld and Astral Travelling to the intense and rhythmically driven tracks Ore-Se-Rere and Teodross Avery’s spine tingling saxophone clarion call thatopens the ever green ‘You’ve Got To Have Freedom’ is a beautiful tributefrom one generation of master musicians to Pharoah – one of the greatestever.