Nostalgia 77 - The Nostalgia Sessions Vol.1 feat. Keith & Julie Tippett (2009)

Press Release :
'Nostalgia 77 Sessions Featuring Keith & Julie Tippett' sees prodigious producer Nostalgia 77 and close contemporary Riaan Vosloo (Nostalgia 77 Octet, Twelves Trio) collaborating with legendary British exponents of avant-garde contemporary music, Keith and Julie Tippett. The result of this intriguing and fruitful marriage of youth and experience is an arrestingly beautiful album of fresh, original material that spans blues, jazz and soul and is threaded through with experimental flourishes that defy categorisation.

Benedic Lamdin (Nostalgia 77) is making a name for himself as one of the most talented producers of modern jazz music around, both as a solo artist and with his Nostalgia 77 Octet. Having won Jazz Album of the Year and the John Peel Play More Jazz Award at the BBC Worldwide Awards, he counts Gilles Peterson and Laurent Garnier among his most ardent fans. Earlier this year, he produced the debut solo album of rising chanteuse and Tru Thoughts label-mate Lizzy Parks.

Lamdin's introduction to Keith and Julie Tippett's music was a dusty copy of their 1971 'Septober Energy' LP (written for the 50-strong band Centipede), and the sheer wealth and freedom of creative endeavour enjoyed by that pioneering group of musicians resonated strongly with him. The Tippetts' oeuvre spans more than four decades at the forefront of musical creativity: Julie (formerly Julie Driscoll) was the voice of Brian Auger's r'n'b group in the '60s, also releasing a host of solo hits that walked the line between soul and r'n'b, while Keith was the pianist at Ronnie Scott's and led his own acclaimed free jazz groups. Their work together includes such ensembles as Mujician and Centipede, and has seen them release records on Polygram and RCA among other world renowned labels. As one of the foremost European vocalists in the field of contemporary jazz and improvised music, Julie is widely regarded for her use of the voice as an instrument, unlocking a versatility and range that is quite unique.

Currently, both Keith and Julie Tippett are committed to sharing their passion and experience with an emerging generation of musicians through educational projects; it was on one such teaching initiative that Riaan Vosloo found himself working with Keith and the seed that grew into the 'Nostalgia 77 Sessions…' project was sown. Recorded in a remote location in rural Wales, the album finds the common ground between these four exceptional musicians. The double A side 7" single, "Film Blues" // "Rainclouds" (out 15th December) has picked up early radio support on such diverse stations as BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and Barcelona's Scanner FM. Edgy harmonies and richly layered vocals with powerfully reflective lyrics, and a continually building backdrop of instruments, make for a deeply bluesy vibe imbued with the spirit and flow of free jazz. Elsewhere on the album, you'll find electrifying percussion and a luxurious tenor sax sound that shines in tantalising extended solos, then melts back in with the richness and depth of Julie Tippett's beguiling voice. The closing track, "New Inner City Blues" is a lament for our times and encapsulates the combination of pedigree and modernity at work on this record.

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