TOM SKINNER – Voices Of Bishara (U.S. Import) – LP – 180g Vinyl [SEP 26]

LP – 180g Classic Black Black Vinyl in Heavyweight Reverse-Board Jacket, with Glossy Photo Insert Sheet, IARC OBI strip & dome-pattern inner sleeve.

The title of Tom Skinners first release under his own name is a reference to cellist Abdul Waduds ultra-rare 1978 solo album By Myself, which Skinner listened to repeatedly during lockdown. Waduds album was privately pressed on his own label, Bisharra, and whilst Skinners title uses the more conventional spelling of this common Arabic name, they both have the same intention or meaning: it translates as good news, or the bringer of good news.

Voices of Bishara began life when Tom Skinner asked some musician friends to join him for a Played Twice session at Londons Brilliant Corners. The regular event had a simple format: play a classic album in full through their audiophile system and then have an elite ensemble improvise their response. The night in question focused on drummer Tony Williams 1964 Blue Note album Life Time and the music he and his friends conjured up was so special that it inspired Skinner to write an albums-worth of phenomenal new music based on the work of Wadud, with a process inspired by this group-reimagining of Life Time.

The result is a tight, hypnotic and unique 31-minutes of music. Voices of Bishara is sculpted around timeless and deeply emotional music that contains masses of movement and exceptional harmonic depth and texture. It sweeps and soars through soundworlds, rich in musicality and always anchored by the deep doubling of cello and bass. It also, of course, contains Skinners percussive magic.

Were individual voices, coming together collectively, says Skinner. The idea was that we could collectively bring something more positive to the table. Its the start of something.

Tom Skinner and Voices of Bishara: bringers of good news.

Tracklist:

Side A
1. Bishara 5:37
2. Red 2 2:57
3. The Journey 5:01

Side B
1. The Day After Tomorrow 4:59
2. Voices (of the Past) 4:50
3. Quiet as Its Kept 4:03

Tom Skinner – Drums
Kareem Dayes – Cello
Tom Herbert – Acoustic Bass
Nubya Garcia – Tenor Sax, Flute
Shabaka Hutchings – Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet