Prolific UK-based saxophonist, composer and band leader Nat Birchall returns with another trademark spiritual jazz offering in the form of ‘Cosmic Language’ and again he treads a similar path to those that influence him, Alice Coltrane and Yusef Lateef among others. ‘Man From Varanasi’ is an ode to Bismillah Khan, a highly respected Indian musician: the idea for the album was born from a one-off performance at a meditation centre, the Maharishi Golden Dome in West Lancashire and with that in mind the inclusion of the harmonium in this four track set brings the Indian/raga influence into play. ‘Humility’ has an expansive, drawn out feel with black jazz melting into those Asian influences while ‘A Prayer For’ is busier but still draws on the same transcendental sensibilities. The freer ‘Dervish’ brings to mind a collision of swirling movement and energy and offers a sense of release from the taut, restrained moments before.
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