Browse by Artist: BIRCHALL, NAT

Artist:	BIRCHALL, NAT
Title:	Akhenaten
Label:	GONDWANA (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	GOND 002CD

This is UK-based Nat Birchall's debut for Manchester jazz label, Gondwana. Nat has earned a reputation over the past 30 years as an impeccable saxophonist. Initially inspired by the great horn men of Jamaica such as Roland Alphonso, Don Drummond, Tommy McCook and Cedric Brooks, Nat found his way to the music of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, which in turn directed the development of his own voice on his instrument. His sound has been favorably compared to Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and latter-day Charles Lloyd. His debut, 1999's The Sixth Sense, earned a four-star review in Jazzwise, finding its way into the "Albums of the Year" list. He has collaborated with Turkish folk-jazz percussionist Akay Temiz, has performed in a groundbreaking, mid-'90s jazz-hop group Corner Crew, and the heavy roots reggae troupe of Dubdadda. Currently performing with Matthew Halsall's various adventurous ensembles, Arun Ghosh's Indo-jazz ensemble, Jon Thorne's Oedipus Mingus project, and guitarist Gary Boyle's quartet, Nat is continually sought-after as a respected session musician. Akhenaten, meaning "effective spirit of Aten," was a Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt who attempted to compel the Egyptian population in the monotheistic worship of Aten, the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology. Over the four compositions that make up Akhenaten, Birchall's mastery of the saxophone flows throughout. The familiar jazz line-up of double bass, piano and drums perfectly complement his lead, and combined, they exude irresistible brilliance and a knowledge of the music's roots. Akhenaten is a spiritual journey that draws from aspects of the work of John and Alice Coltrane and evokes the reverent hush of Sanders' "Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord," but all channeled through Nat's absolute focus. The opening motif of "Nica's Dance" sets the tone for the album, with a vibe that unfolds into a Coltrane-informed session. The sparse, free-form beginnings of second track "A Prayer For..." are given focus by Nat's horn, gradually developing into the laid-back, syncopated groove that is the album's title track, "Akhenaten." Finally, the fourth piece "Many Blessings," brings the album to its close with an air of sublime optimism. This is a softly glowing album of mystical jazz that flows like a river full of sunlight.

Artist:	BIRCHALL, NAT
Title:	Guiding Spirit
Label:	GONDWANA (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	GOND 004CD

This is the second album by UK saxophonist Nat Birchall on Gondwana Records. Birchall has always been something of an enigma, a sublimely soulful saxophonist hidden from view in the Northern hills. His debut album Sixth Sense (1998) first announced him to the jazz world as an urgent tenor saxophonist with a feel for pulsing, modal hard-bop. But it was his cult hit and now highly sought-after soulful slice of spiritual jazz Akhenaten (GOND 002CD) that suggested that the spirit of Coltrane was alive and well in Northern England. Acclaimed by the critics (MOJO for one hailing its "spacial sunship beauty" and "lyrical heat haze hypnotism") Akhenaten, together with Halsall's own releases Sending My Love and Colour Yes helped create the unique sound that the Independent On Sunday described as "rain soaked spiritual jazz from Manchester." Inspired by the legendary Jamaican jazz-influenced saxophonists Cedric Brooks and Tommy McCook, and by lessons with an enigmatic local player, Harold Salisbury, he began by playing with various bands including Akay Temiz's Zaman. Birchall led a hip-hop-influenced jazz band Corner Crew in the early '90s and started to make a name for himself on the local scene but felt unsatisfied with the music, despite some encouragement from the legendary record producer Tony Hall (Dizzy Reece, Tubby Hayes). Meeting trumpeter Matthew Halsall and a group of like-minded players (including pianist Adam Fairhall, bassist Gavin Barras and drummer Gaz Hughes) gathered around Matt & Phreds in Manchester proved an inspiration. Guiding Spirit opens with "Open Up The Gates," invoking the idea of huge ancient gates being opened to allow the procession through but with a subtext of acceptance and recognition. "Keep The Light Shining" is a sunny tune, while "Higher Regions" has something of a McCoy Tyner vibe and features harpist Rachael Gladwin on kora. "Going To The Mountain" is inspired by a simple phrase that Birchall heard Pharoah Sanders play which has an eastern feel. The uptempo "Becoming" is named for something Duke Ellington once said, that he liked to have his music always "in a state of becoming" and is enhanced by Fairhall's luminous solo. Finally the rubato "Guiding Spirit" hints at the hidden forces or unconscious decisions that for Birchall drive both life and his own deeply-felt music.

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