We are delighted to present an exclusive stream of the track ‘Moonbow’, taken from the forthcoming ‘Bea’ album by Spindle Ensemble…
Spindle Ensemble is an instrumental quartet that are part of Bristol’s music collective Bloom. They perform original compositions by Daniel Inzani that hover cinematically somewhere between jazz, folk and classical idioms, taking inspiration from artists such as Moondog, Eric Satie, Charles Mingus and Mulatu Astatke. They will be releasing their debut album, Bea, as a luxury gatefold vinyl edition + CD and digital via new label Adderwell Music in January 2018, the striking cover art for Bea was created by Australian illustrator Anna Higgie.
Daniel’s compositions combine classical and jazz harmonic structures with strong mathematical concepts. Having studied Mathematics at the University of Bath, he continues to explore stochastic techniques of rhythm and harmony favoured by many of the great modern composers including Steve Reich and Iannis Xenakis. But where the music of Spindle Ensemble differs from these greats is that it also has a strong emotional melodicism, more connected to post-romantics such as Satie and Debussy. The performances give the pieces a dynamic spontaneity and the arrangements leave space for group improvisation, allowing the percussion to open up into some glorious free playing, akin to the virtuosic expressionism of the greats such as Frank Zappa’s favoured tuned percussionist Ruth Underwood. The varied use of the string section allows the ensemble to swap musical roles and vary the feel and texture of their sound, creating cinematic narratives similar to other contemporary soundtrack orientated bands such as Tosca Tango, Basquiat Strings and Tin Hat Trio. Some of the tonalities and melodies are intended to replicate the expressive inflection of the human voice, often inspired by nature as many of them started out as sketches on Celtic harp in the woodlands near Daniel’s house in Bristol. Their mixture of musical innovation, pastoral aspiration and deft musicianship combine to create a beguiling and cerebral whole.
Spindle Ensemble features pianist and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Inzani, Caelia Lunniss (violin), Harriet Riley (tuned percussion) and Jo Silverston (cello). Daniel is a composer, curator and performer who recently collaborated with acclaimed saxophonist/poet Alabaster dePlume on the album The Jester (Debt Records). Daniel has studied Ethiopian music and performs with world jazz band Tezeta, which also features Harriet. Jo is an accomplished classically trained cellist who has worked with many luminaries, including The Unthanks and Allen Toussaint. Harriet is a virtuoso tuned percussionist who studied Orchestral Percussion at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is an in demand classical session musician who works with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bath Philharmonia and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Caelia is an ever in demand violinist on the Bristol scene, collaborating with a host of local talents including Edward Penfold and Oliver Wilde.
Bea was recorded with engineer Michael Pearce in a converted village chapel named ‘Grand Chapel Studios’ in Bedfordhsire, Michael beautifully captured a stereo image of their sound live. Spindle Ensemble named the album Bea after Jo’s recently born daughter to mark the birth of the band.
Spindle Ensemble – forthcoming live performances:
17th Nov – Rook Lane Chapel, Frome
18th Nov – Grand Chapel Studios, Tebworth
22nd Nov – The Rosehill, Brighton
23rd Nov – Water Lane Coffee House, Kent
24th Nov – SVA Goods Shed, Stroud
26th Nov – All Hallow Hall, Bristol
7th Dec – Walthamstow Church, London