Awakening [Vinyl]

22a023 sees trumpeter, friend and long-time label affiliate Nick Walters bring his Paradox Ensemble back to life with the mini-album ‘Awakening’. The thirteen piece ensemble combine spiritual and eastern jazz moods with West African rhythms across four extended tracks. Limited one-off pressing, manufactured at Optimal, Germany.

Channelling the spirit of Woody Shaw, Charles Mingus and absent friends the band features some familiar faces such as Ed Cawthorne (aka Tenderlonious) on tenor sax and flute, Aidan Shepherd ( Ruby Rushton) on accordion and synth, and of course the incomparable Nick Walters (Ruby Rushton & Riot Jazz) on trumpet and synths.

Tracks include “34268”, inspired by an Agbadja rhythm from Togo, features two ways of emphasising the same rhythmic motif - the first half a slower pulse of three beats to the bar before quickening to a four to the floor groove for the second half, accompanied by a classic trumpet solo from Walters.