The Circling Sun, a New Zealand jazz collective formed in the mid-2000s, recently released their long-awaited debut album.
On ‘Spirits’, the band channels Latin rhythms and spiritual and modal jazz masters with their own soul and sensibility. Atmospheric, rich and expressive, The Circling Sun’s soundscapes lightly tread on the past but are always forward-looking. ‘Kohan’ and ‘Bones’ are undeniable standouts, both melodically and dynamically superb; ‘Plume’ is a personal highlight – the collective’s impressive instrumental language is showcased to the fullest.
Released on the fantastic London label Soundway Records, the group pays homage to greats such as Alice Coltrane, Yusef Lateef and Pharoah Sanders. In addition, they incorporate a myriad of Afro, Latin and contemporary musical forms. You’ll also hear a choir of mostly Pacific Island and Maori singers and artists, reflecting and acknowledging their countries’ cultures and heritages.
The Circling Sun consist of Harrison on piano/keyboards, J Y Lee on saxophones/flute/bass clarinet, Ben Turua on acoustic bass, Julien Dyne on drums/percussion, Cameron Allen on saxophones and Finn Scholes on trumpet and vibraphone.
Talking about their early days, Dyne, the main songwriter for the group who has previously released solo albums via Soundway Records, explains:
“Our primary motivator was to perform covers of songs that spoke to us. An education in, and homage to, the great African American innovators. The original compositions that developed after absorbing these influences reflects our love and respect for these cultural icons.”
This is a superb recording from start to finish, and it gets better and better with each listen.
