Recording of the Week, Joshua Jaswon - Polar Waters

Joshua Jaswon, the talented London-born alto saxophonist, has embarked on a captivating musical journey that has taken him across borders and beyond conventions in the contemporary jazz scene. Driven by a profound disillusionment with Brexit, Jaswon made the bold decision to uproot his life and settle in the more conducive artistic environment of Berlin, a move that not only provided him with an escape from the political climate but also offered an ideal backdrop to pursue his aspirations as a bandleader and composer. In 2020 he unveiled his deeply introspective and thought-provoking album, Silent Sea, and drawing on the talents of his pan-European eight-piece ensemble, Jaswon skillfully brought his compositions to life with remarkable passion and emotional depth.

Building upon the success and critical acclaim of Silent Sea, Jaswon's latest offering, "Polar Waters" embarks on a similarly thematic trajectory. Embracing oceanic motifs, the music becomes intertwined with a canny selection of modern poems, this amalgamation of jazz, poetry, and storytelling serving as a testament to Jaswon's commitment to pushing the boundaries of his craft.

While Polar Waters tackles weighty and earnest subjects, the album actually possesses an unexpected lightness of touch. Jaswon fuses the commanding force of a big band with the delicate intimacy found within a small ensemble. A key element that sets this band apart is the integration of Anna Serierse into the ensemble. Serierse's youthful energy and impressive vocal dexterity shine through, whether illuminating the poignant lyric poetry of Elsa Hammond, Catherine Faulds, Claire Cox, and Carrie Etter or contributing wordless melodic lines. Each track boasts its own distinctive character, offering variety while maintaining a cohesive tonal palette. For example, "Seasick Part 1" evolves from a mesmerizing solo bass excursion into the full band, with tenor saxophonist Marc Doffey really shining through here, complementing the contrasting texture of Jaswon's solo soprano saxophone. On opening track "Swimming in Winter”, both saxes weave in and out of Serierse's wordless vocals to marvelous effect, accompanied by the rhythmic pulse of handclaps.

Jaswon's compositional prowess is particularly evident in his use of motific structures that repeat and evolve throughout the album. On "Landfill", the entire ensemble contributes to a short phrase that repeats and transposes, serving as the foundation for mesmerizing solos from members Ugoljew and Jaswon himself. The meticulous attention given to the album's overall shape is apparent, as demonstrated by the melancholic reprise of "Swimming in Winter" towards the album's end, leading to the poignant closing track, "Enigma", featuring Jaswon's evocative words and music.