Album Release: A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate (Luke Howard Trio)

A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate

A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate (Luke Howard Trio)
Which Way Music  (WWM018)

Information from the media release

A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate

Recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio with legendary engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug, A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate features works by both leader/pianist Luke Howard and bassist Jonathan Zion (Anton Delecca Quartet, Lior, Ian Moss). Joined by drummer Daniel Farrugia (Tin Pan Orange, Julia Stone, Magnolia), the trio’s minimalist aesthetic blends elements of improvised and popular music.

‘The new disc is very reflective and introspective,’ says Luke, ‘and the particular sound created by Jan Erik suits our music perfectly. The ambience of the piano is particularly beautiful and sparse’.

This recording has the unique qualities of clarity, warmth and refinement particular to so many of the classic European jazz releases on the ECM label of the past 40 years, many of which were recorded at Rainbow Studio. These are the same qualities heard on Howard’s award-winning release Open Road (the track ‘Spir’ won Australian Jazz Song of the Year at the 2012 Bell Awards).

‘The tunes were inspired by world events, infatuation and quiet places,’ says Luke, ‘but they quickly take on a life and character of their own, beyond their starting point’. Luke and Jonathan’s compositions have the intangible quality of sounding immediately familiar. Their reflective and introspective nature belies a deeper harmonic structure.

Luke Howard Trio
Luke Howard Trio

Luke studied classical piano as a child before graduating with honours from the Victorian College of the Arts. As a bandleader, he has frequently appeared at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and was in 2001 awarded the Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship through which he studied with Paul Bley and Fred Hersch. Amongst others he has worked with Ben Frost, Paul Grabowsky, the Grigoryan Brothers and Lior.

Luke was twice a finalist in the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition. He has played on over fifty recordings and has also written music for film and theatre. Luke’s music has been described as “cinematic in its approach” (The Age) and ‘pastoral, almost semi-classical’ (The Australian). His solo album Sun, Cloud will be released later in 2013.

Listen

Cibi from A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate

Links

Read more about the CD on Luke Howard website

Purchase the CD from Which Way Music

 

Author: Miriam

Miriam Zolin is a writer who enjoys jazz and improvised music. She was the founding editor of AustralianJazz.net, and was also responsible for publishing the extempore journal, and books by John Clare, Geoff Page and Allan Browne.