RARE MIX (in its second phase) was an 11-piece band, a collective enterprise for which more than half the band members composed and everyone contributed. It started in 1997 with a London Jazz Festival gig at the Spitz (promoted by Jazz Umbrella) and continued with regular appearances at the Vortex (Stoke Newington, London) and the Space (Isle of Dogs, London) - meanwhile developing new material in workshop style rehearsals - a body of work only partially represented by this studio recording made in mid-summer 2000, unreleased until now.
1/ FROM FATHER TO SON (Loz Speyer) - "Composed for my father Denis Speyer, during the year following his departing this life."
2/ PRELUDE (Mark Bassey) - "Warm up for the clever stuff..."
3/ EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE (Jason Yarde, Martin Hathaway, Julian Siegel, Gabriel Keen, Loz Speyer, Rare Mix) - Collective composition by Rare Mix, with these landmarks to help navigate:
--- 00:00 ISO FC/The Search -- 02:26 Nature Dreams -- 07:11 Passacaglia -- 14:00 Slumber-Jack -- 19.31 A Sound Enmeshment -- 20:58 The Search Continues -- 25:39 Aran Ferry Engine -- 29:52 Slumber-Jack Returns -- 33:57 ISO FC -- 41:26 End
credits
released June 22, 2020
RARE MIX
Francine Luce - vocals (tracks 2, 3)
Martin Hathaway - flute, bass clarinet
Jason Yarde - alto sax, soprano sax
Julian Siegel - tenor sax
Loz Speyer - trumpet
Mike Feltham - trombone (track 1)
Mark Bassey - trombone (2, 3)
Sarah Waterhouse - tuba
Ben Davis - cello
Gabriel Keen - piano
Julie Walkington - double bass
Mike Pickering - drums
Recorded 12/06/2000 at R2 Studios by John Wilkinson
Mixed by John Wilkinson, mastered by Robin Springall
Artwork by Sarah Waterhouse
'Work' is one of my favourite Monk tunes and I've been working on his music for a long time, often with guitarists. This solo guitar take on ALL his tunes is just great - warm, good natured and true. Loz Speyer / Spherical Records
Petra and Meg went to an island off the coast of Norway to make this record, and deliver 45mins of intense musicality and emotional directness, beyond what you'd think possible for a duo. Loz Speyer / Spherical Records
A sonic exploration of the life and thoughts of trees, this is brave and exploratory contemporary classical music and avant-jazz. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 6, 2022
Released in conjunction with her M-Unit ensemble's tenth anniversary, the composer's new concept album is a boundless, jazzy dispatch. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 11, 2023