The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8JH | Bookings 020 7254 4097 | Enquiries 020 7993 3643 | Email Info at Vortex

CD reviews

New cd releases

 

Browse CD reviews

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

Join the Vortex
email list

To receive monthly gig details, news and ticket offers.



RSS feeds

For news, gig and CD reviews and information about the club.

Click on the link below to get the subscribe address
Vortex news

For more informaton about RSS see the
RSS help pages

Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise

The Song Within

Sam Productions SAM 9004

Avowedly inspired by the power-trio music produced by Tony Williams's Lifetime, drummer Asaf Sirkis writes the material for this band – completed by guitarist Mike Outram and keyboardist Steve Lodder – by recording himself improvising, 'trying not to "develop ideas" but rather leaving it there as it is. I do not try to intervene.'

The resulting music has a floating, spontaneous feel to it; the kernel of each piece is usually relatively simple – Lodder's organ effects rocking gently between a couple of chords, or a slowly ascending chord sequence – but the trio's explorations of same are mesmerising in their subtlety and power.

Sirkis is the linchpin, his rapt but muscular, rustling drumming never allowing the band's momentum to slacken for a second, but both Outram and Lodder – the former producing a series of spiky, climactic solos; the latter adept as ever at moving easily between textural fills and cogent improvisations (plus three church-organ solo pieces, one dedicated to Sirkis's chief inspiration, Gary Husband) – bring powerfully individual voices to the music.

Thus perfectly balanced between structure and freedom, Sirkis's music works well on record, as here, but is thoroughly entrancing live.

Play a track (mp3 file)

The Song Within