SLAMCD289 Adam Fairhall – The Imaginary Delta

Adam Fairhill‘s project ‘The Imaginary Delta’ was commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival and recorded live at The Band on the Wall, Manchester. Early jazz forms are recalled, mixed with contemporary techniques and twisted into new shapes, using a combination of samples, a diddley bow and a band of highly versatile British improvisers.

Adam Fairhall: piano
James Allsopp: clarinets
Chris Bridges: trombone, jug
Steve Chadwick: trumpet
Tim Fairhall: bass
Gaz Hughes: drums
Paul J Rogers: diddley bow, laptop, turntable, objects

“If I had to point to one album that exemplified the thriving state of Jazz, and it’s undeniable hope for the future, it would be The Imaginary Delta. By mixing traditional instruments and forms with modern instruments and composition, Fairhall is simultaneously forward-thinking while still tending to the roots of Jazz’s past. And, really, both those things are important. Jazz is about tradition, just as Jazz is about innovation. Most jazz musicians are able to do one of those things well, a smaller group are able to do one of those things great… but it’s a rare thing for an artist to do both of those things, simultaneously, great. Fairhall has done that here. Inventive music that echoes the spirit of Charles Mingus.” – The Bird is the Worm (2012 Album of the Year)

“Sampled sounds are merged with real time instruments to create a fascinating patchwork of ancient and modern. Opener “Baptist Prayer Meeting” grows out of Rogers’ samples and diddley bow to embrace a more contemporary modal sound with rich, deep bass clarinet voicings from Allsopp and Tyner style piano from Adam Fairhall…a superbly realised project…The merging of different jazz and blues styles and of divergent technologies is seamlessly done and the entire album represents a remarkably coherent whole. Fairhall is to be congratulated for his vision which blends his extensive knowledge of jazz and blues styles with strong compositional skills to present an entity which is entirely convincing.” – ★★★★ Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann

“The use of samples, or actual recordings, from the1920s is a fascinating idea…There is some great bass clarinet playing by Allsop. Maybe because of the bass clarinet I hear the influence of Mingus in the compositions and ensemble work in spots, both in terms of “Blues and Roots” and in a more general way in how Mingus used collective improvisation. All players capture the early styles well and mix them with a more contemporary sensibility. This is especially the case with Fairhall’s piano.” – Bernie Koenig, Cadence

“The blues is, of course, a phantom presence in a lot of jazz, but it’s rarely summoned as explicitly or to such beguiling effect as on Fairhall’s six-part suite The Imaginary Delta. As the title suggests, Fairhall is concerned with evoking the lost American South that gave rise to blues and early jazz, captured and viewed through an electronic 21st century prism. So, that means combining acoustic instruments (including the primitive, twanging diddley bow of poor rural blues) with modern laptops and turntables: Paul J Rodgers’ exquisitely placed samples from crackly blues records are stunningly evocative, making full use of the romantic allure of analogue sound. There’s some stunning musicianship on these originals that veer from free-jazz to ragtime to deep swing – and Fairhall’s piano is a questing, quixotic voice with a comprehensive “inside and out” vocabulary that recalls some of Sun Ra’s solo passages. This is armchair time travel of the highest order.” – Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise

“The supporting cast include Steve Chadwick on trumpet (dignified and elegant); Chris Bridges on trombone (an instrument good at straddling hot and free jazz); James Allsopp on clarinets (simultaneously detached and urgent); wild card Paul Rogers (on diddley bow and electronics); Tim Fairhall (rich-toned on bass) and Gaz Hughes (juggling beats and styles). And then there’s Adam Fairhall himself, whose fractured, compelling from stride-to-Stan piano proposes unity rather than schism.” – Mike Butler, Manchester Evening News

“Starting off with a strange mutated blues sample the group soon jump into a strong, hard-swinging groove. The team of frontline horns – clarinet, trumpet and trombone, has a distinctive sound that seems to dip into some New Orleans-like rambunctious. This band is consistently tight and spirited with exuberant piano from Mr. Allsopp. “Sedalia Rag” does actually sound like a rag and the entire vibe does make me smile. Utility player, Paul J. Rogers, knows how to insert certain samples or sounds to enhance those old school references from jazz’s long history.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

All tracks composed by Adam Fairhall
Recorded live at Band on the Wall, Manchester on 26th July 2011 as part of Manchester Jazz Festival
Recorded by Sam Jones
Mixed and mastered by Dr Jason Woolley

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