Record Reviews

IAIN BALLAMY ~ RIVERSPHERE BABEL 25161 (Barcode: 5070004082703) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Ambient Fusion Recorded: 2025 Released: 2025 This is an album by British Jazz saxophonist / composer Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with guitarist Rob LuftFind albums by this artist, bassist Conor ChaplinFind albums by this artist and drummer Corrie DickFind albums by this artist. Trumpeters Laura JurdFind albums by this artist and Charlie BallamyFind albums by this artist guest on selected tracks. The album presents ten tracks, five of which are credited to the performing musicians, one each is by Ballamy and Luft, one is by Bill FrisellFind albums by this artist and two are by Antonio Carlos JobimFind albums by this artist. The music offers a beautiful mixture of Jazz and contemporary Ambient aura, with Ballamy’s seductive saxophone work, Luft’s spacy guitar layers and delicate rhythm section support, with excellent electric bass work. The resulting ambiance is quite unique, very romantic and relaxed, offering a pleasant, but not trivial listening experience. The three tracks featuring trumpets fit the rest of the material perfectly, staying within the same vein and adding a touch of Scandinavian Jazz moods. Overall, this is a refreshing, and highly satisfying experiment, expanding the Jazz elements with more contemporary electric ambient vistas, but all perfectly within the aesthetic borders one expects form musicians of the class of Ballamy. I had a surprisingly marvelous time listening to this album and recommend it wholeheartedly.

Updated: 01/12/2025Posted: 01/12/2025

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