Polar Waters

A soaring blend of jazz and poetry […] the saxophonist's heartfelt album on ecological themes is adventurous and musically playful. — The Guardian More…

Release Date: 2nd Jun 2023
Catalogue No: UBU0125LP
Label: Ubuntu

Presto Recording of the Week

2nd June 2023
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2023

Polar Waters

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Recording of the Week, Joshua Jaswon - Polar Waters

2nd June 2023

Having moved to Berlin and formed his own ensemble, UK-born composer and saxophonist Joshua Jaswon's Polar Waters is a compelling album that combines jazz, poetry and song to memorable effect.

The Joshua Jaswon Octet is a Berlin-based contemporary jazz ensemble, featuring a broad cross-section of exceptional young musicians from Europe's leading jazz scenes. Lead by the London-born saxophonist and composer, the ensemble released its debut album Silent Sea in October 2020, which was selected by BBC Music as one of the best jazz recordings of 2020/21 and received 4 and 5 star reviews across the UK and international media. Polar Waters draws out the distinct musical personalities of each member of the Octet into the group's collective sound was a part of the ensemble's natural evolution from its first record and something that has developed through extended time living with and performing the music. Jaswon focused on exploring the fluidity of roles, sound colours and textural combinations in the ensemble and how this related to both the collective and individual.

Reviews

A soaring blend of jazz and poetry […] the saxophonist's heartfelt album on ecological themes is adventurous and musically playful.

June 2023

It’s refreshing to hear this band, led by British-born, Berlin-based Jaswon, that has both created a very distinct and individual tonal palette, and can sustain it across an album.

Polar Waters

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Polar Waters

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