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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Saxophonist Theo Travis might be based in London, but Heart of the Sun features a geographically broad spread of musicians, most notably spotlighting the Danish trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg on half of its pieces. Travis alternates his usual UK band with a German rhythm team, and there are more guest slots for guitarists Mark Wood (who figured in the raunchy Marshall-Travis-Wood trio) and Daevid Allen, leader of veteran psychedelic pranksters Gong. All except one of the album's tunes are penned by Travis, the exception being "Here's That Rainy Day", a Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen standard. Though Travis has a strong individual style, he admits outside influences at various points, among them John Coltrane, Michael Brecker and even Coleman Hawkins. Ambient textures are smeared liberally, Mikkelborg using delicious mute burbles or warbly electro-effects, David Gordon producing a purring pulse on Hammond B3. The album closes with the epic "Bass Rock" (pronounced like the fish rather than the four-string), a suitably atmospheric unfolding, inspired by a visit to the island of volcanic stone just off England's north-east coast. --Martin Longley
Album Description
'Heart Of The Sun' is the first studio recording by British saxophonist/flautist/composer Theo Travis since his critically acclaimed 1996 release, 'Secret Island'. It features his regular working band plus various international guests including Denmark's legendary trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg who is known for his landmark recordings with Miles Davis ('Aura'), Dexter Gordon (the 'Round Midnight' film), George Russell, Bill Evans, Jan Garbarek and Terje Rypdal. Other guests include guitarist Daevid Allen (Travis has been a member of Allen's band Gong since 1999) and top German rhythm section Stefan weeke (bass) and Bjorn Lucker (drums).
The album includes seven Travis originals with strong melodies, varied compositional colours and imaginative arrangements. It moves from ambient ballads to progressive bluesy tracks and from freewheeling hard swinging tracks to evocative soundscapes. There is also an imaginative and atmospheric version of the classic "Here's That Rainy Day". Influences are as diverse as McCoy Tyner, The Beatles, Stan Getz, Gil Evans and Brian Eno on what has already been hailed as Theo's finest album to date.
Personnel:
Theo Travis - (tenor & soprano sax), Palle Mikkelborg - (trumpet), Daevid Allen - (Glissando guitar), Andy Hamill - (double bass), David Gordon - (piano, Hammond C3 organ), Marc Parnell - (drums), Stefan Weeke - (double bass), Bjorn Lucker - (drums), Mark Wood - (guitar), Stewart Curtis - (clarinets)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tempered Night Music,
This review is from: Heart of the Sun (Audio CD)
Theo Travis Heart of the SunThis CD represents the mellow side of Theo Travis and his band, as may be ascertained from the title and sunset cover. The hard-nosed all involving power of several previous albums has been tempered but the magic of Theo's compositional skills and selection of band members remains at its best. Joined by regulars David Gordon (p), Marc Parnell (d) and Andy Hamill (b) the content of Heart of the Sun is exemplary. Add the trumpet of Palle Mikkelborg and guitar of Mark Wood, both of three tracks, and you have one of the best jazz albums of the year. Track by track Heart of the Sun builds into a sensual delight that demands late night listening. Opening with 'All I Know', the trademark tenor sax voice sets you up for the rest of the album. The opening statement gives way to David Gordon's piano solo, which manages to blend lyricism with simplicity, perfectly matching the tone of the leader. In fact David Gordon's playing is one of the most enjoyable elements of the entire album. 'Northern Lights' provides a haunting introduction that is reminiscent of 'Ghosts of Witley Court' from Mr. Travis's 'View From The Edge' CD, of which there is a quote in the last (16 minute) track 'Bass Rock'. But what separates this track out as one of the best on 'Heart of the Sun' is the inclusion of David Gordon on Hammond organ and Palle Mikkleborg. Muted and with Miles-esque understatement Mikkleborg shows how effective quiet & unobtrusive improvisations can be. The Miles Davis theme continues on the latter half of 'That Old Smile' and 'Last Flight From Twinwood' with moments of electro-jazz harking back to the early seventies and to which Mark Wood makes a major contribution alongside Mikkleborg. Fear not, none of this is out of context or abrasive. And topping the previous 7 tracks off is Bass Rock. Moody, evocative, excellent. Do not decide whether you should buy this album, decide whether your collection can afford to be without it! Julian Winn, Rhos-on-Sea
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fine music from a thinking musician,
By IceBear (Exeter, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Heart of the Sun (Audio CD)
I first came across Theo Travis when he was playing with Soft Machine. He was a new name to me then but I started to look around at his back catalogue. As a prog-rock fan from the 70s, I was intrigued by his links with the Canterbury sound - check out Earth To Ether to hear great examples. This is something a bit different though, and its great to come across a musician who's prepared to try rather different styles.
Heart of the Sun has some great work. the first track, All I Know, has a really catchy groove. On the second, Northern Lights, there's some really atmospheric muted trumpet from Palle Mikkelborg. Then more good stuff until the last track Bass Rock, which is just a masterpiece. The essence of jazz music is improvisation and there's sometimes a bit of a tension between it and more heavily scored pieces. Bass Rock seems to me like a great example of a piece which is clearly composed to a structure that would be recognized in classical music, but which allows the musicians all the space they need to exercise their improvising skills. Overall, this is fine inventive music from fine bunch of musicians and a leader who I really wish I'd discovered earlier.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb,
By eyeglass (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Heart of the Sun (Audio CD)
Not much to add to the extensive review already here aprt from to point out that Gongs Daevid Allen is featured on glissando guitar. Oh and this is an amazing album
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