ESTRAVEN - Ignored Advice
Independent album release
Chris Hyde-Harrison (bass); Duncan Eagles (sax); Alban Claret (guitar); Matt Parkinson (drums)
Recorded Lightship 95, London 5 September 2021
Estraven is a four-piece modern jazz band, with most of its members hailing from London. Like many young musicians today, the band members have released the music themselves, both as a digital album (streaming and download versions) and a CD, [all of which are available from: https://estraven1.bandcamp.com/album/ignored-advice]. The band was founded by double bassist Chris Hyde-Harrison, who also composed the music. The band’s name comes from the name of a character from Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1963 science fiction novel, The Left Hand of Darkness.
The band members have varying degrees of musical experience. Tenor saxophonist Duncan Eagles is a member of the jazz trio Partikel, and has also performed with Gary Husband, Mark Mondesir and Jason Rebello, as well as opening for Joshua Redman at the Barbican. French-born guitarist Alban Claret has played at Ronnie Scott’s with his own quartet, whilst drummer Matt Parkinson has performed at various jazz venues including, Jazz Café, Vortex and the 606 Club.
This is a short album, just 34 minutes in length, with seven tracks, the longest being roughly six-and-a-half minutes long, but most tunes are around the 4-5-minute mark. Quantity is, of course, no indicator of quality, and I’d rather listen to 30 minutes of good music than two hours of bad music. That said, a CD can hold up to 80 minutes of music and it’s a shame that the physical version of this album wasn’t provided with a bonus track or two, or that the band didn’t develop some of the songs into longer pieces.
The opening number, ‘Invocation, Incantation’ starts with Eagle’s sax (treated with a little reverb) blowing over a pounding drums and a circular bass riff. The music is light, airy, spacious and delicate, which applies all of the tunes. You get the feeling of a band where everyone is listening to each other and giving each other space. Claret’s deft touch has echoes of Pat Metheny and he plays with a clean sound, eschewing effects like a chorus pedal or fuzz.
‘Letters From The Frontline’ finds Eagle blowing a glorious melody on sax and Claret delivering a graceful solo, with delicate picking and light strumming. There’s also a supple solo by Hyde-Harrison. Parkinson provides solid support on drums, but is never overpowering. Eagle’s sax dominates the title track, playing over a syncopated drum track that includes some energetic fills. ‘A Voice Beneath’ is the longest number at 6:20. Eagles plays the waltz-like theme and Hyde-Harrison plays a long solo, which builds up to powerful climax. ‘Safe Hex’ was released as a single (there’s even a video animation for it on YouTube, which appears to show a man in bondage suspended over a magical pentacle, whilst a woman reads a book that has the song’s title – make of it what you will..). It’s odd time signatures and quirky sound certainly make it an interesting choice for a single.
‘Pariah’s Return’ has a Middle Eastern influence (a grant from Arts Council England enabled Hyde-Harrison to study ‘Maqam', the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music). The exotic-sounding number has a sedate, pounding beat and features sinuous sax lines and crashing guitar chords. The slow, drifting soundscape evoked in this listener a vision of a camel train slowly trekking across a desert. ‘Last Mahou Shoujo’ is an atmospheric duet between guitar and bass, with the rest of the band joining in around the half-way point, and Eagles mournful sax lines bringing the ballad to its conclusion. Estraven is a talented group of musicians and this debut album augers well for the future. There is a lot of good music on this album; I just wish there was a little bit more of it.
Reviewed by George Cole
Independent album release
Chris Hyde-Harrison (bass); Duncan Eagles (sax); Alban Claret (guitar); Matt Parkinson (drums)
Recorded Lightship 95, London 5 September 2021
Estraven is a four-piece modern jazz band, with most of its members hailing from London. Like many young musicians today, the band members have released the music themselves, both as a digital album (streaming and download versions) and a CD, [all of which are available from: https://estraven1.bandcamp.com/album/ignored-advice]. The band was founded by double bassist Chris Hyde-Harrison, who also composed the music. The band’s name comes from the name of a character from Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1963 science fiction novel, The Left Hand of Darkness.
The band members have varying degrees of musical experience. Tenor saxophonist Duncan Eagles is a member of the jazz trio Partikel, and has also performed with Gary Husband, Mark Mondesir and Jason Rebello, as well as opening for Joshua Redman at the Barbican. French-born guitarist Alban Claret has played at Ronnie Scott’s with his own quartet, whilst drummer Matt Parkinson has performed at various jazz venues including, Jazz Café, Vortex and the 606 Club.
This is a short album, just 34 minutes in length, with seven tracks, the longest being roughly six-and-a-half minutes long, but most tunes are around the 4-5-minute mark. Quantity is, of course, no indicator of quality, and I’d rather listen to 30 minutes of good music than two hours of bad music. That said, a CD can hold up to 80 minutes of music and it’s a shame that the physical version of this album wasn’t provided with a bonus track or two, or that the band didn’t develop some of the songs into longer pieces.
The opening number, ‘Invocation, Incantation’ starts with Eagle’s sax (treated with a little reverb) blowing over a pounding drums and a circular bass riff. The music is light, airy, spacious and delicate, which applies all of the tunes. You get the feeling of a band where everyone is listening to each other and giving each other space. Claret’s deft touch has echoes of Pat Metheny and he plays with a clean sound, eschewing effects like a chorus pedal or fuzz.
‘Letters From The Frontline’ finds Eagle blowing a glorious melody on sax and Claret delivering a graceful solo, with delicate picking and light strumming. There’s also a supple solo by Hyde-Harrison. Parkinson provides solid support on drums, but is never overpowering. Eagle’s sax dominates the title track, playing over a syncopated drum track that includes some energetic fills. ‘A Voice Beneath’ is the longest number at 6:20. Eagles plays the waltz-like theme and Hyde-Harrison plays a long solo, which builds up to powerful climax. ‘Safe Hex’ was released as a single (there’s even a video animation for it on YouTube, which appears to show a man in bondage suspended over a magical pentacle, whilst a woman reads a book that has the song’s title – make of it what you will..). It’s odd time signatures and quirky sound certainly make it an interesting choice for a single.
‘Pariah’s Return’ has a Middle Eastern influence (a grant from Arts Council England enabled Hyde-Harrison to study ‘Maqam', the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music). The exotic-sounding number has a sedate, pounding beat and features sinuous sax lines and crashing guitar chords. The slow, drifting soundscape evoked in this listener a vision of a camel train slowly trekking across a desert. ‘Last Mahou Shoujo’ is an atmospheric duet between guitar and bass, with the rest of the band joining in around the half-way point, and Eagles mournful sax lines bringing the ballad to its conclusion. Estraven is a talented group of musicians and this debut album augers well for the future. There is a lot of good music on this album; I just wish there was a little bit more of it.
Reviewed by George Cole
