Michael Mueller
Sophisticated yet accessible piano-led jazz, Malija have crafted an intricate suite of compositions that have a warmth and humanity to them.
These songs are flecked with traditional jazz modalities, modernist flourishes and a few unexpected detours.
The interplay between the members is exemplary, indicative of their skills and musical synchronicity.
An albums for traditionalists and modernists alike, and perfect listening for a Sunday morning. Favorite track: Mr Wrack.
john greenwood
I received the vinyl today. Not only is the music top shelf, extremely well played with such style and ease, the recording is great too. Edition has figured it out. Great musicians with excellent compositions produced with an eye on quality that even a casual listener will appreciate. This album has a light and warm feeling to it. Thank you for the Music, sincerely, it brings hours of pleasure listening to it.
Favorite track: Unknown.
12" vinyl release from newly formed trio MALIJA featuring all star line-up - Mark Lockheart, Liam Noble and Jasper Hoiby. The first 50 sold will be signed and numbered.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Day I Had Everything
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 1 day
Purchasable with gift card
£20GBPor more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Comes in a beautifully designed Jewel case with an o card.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Day I Had Everything
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 1 day
Purchasable with gift card
£10.99GBPor more
Streaming + Download
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
MARK LOCKHEART saxophones, bass clarinet
JASPER HØIBY double bass
LIAM NOBLE piano
1. Squared (Mark Lockheart)
2. Mr Wrack (Liam Noble)
3. Unknown (Jasper Høiby)
4. The Pianist (Mark Lockheart)
5. Wheels (Liam Noble)
6. Malija (Jasper Høiby)
7. Almost A Tango (Mark Lockheart)
8. Blues (Liam Noble)
9. One For Us (Mark Lockheart)
10. Wayne's World (Liam Noble )
11. With One Voice (Mark Lockheart)
If New Orleans was the first city of jazz; New York, the city that never sleeps: the home of bebop; Paris the city of 50s cool, then, arguably, that dynamic, cosmopolitan, constantly self-reinventing megacity London is the jazz burg of the 21st century.
To a visitor, London is overwhelming - a monster that consumes all in its path, grimey, overcrowded and intense. But it’s been said that London is a collection of villages and to the resident, subtle differences emerge between boroughs, within districts, even along streets. The yearly cycle brings its own complexity. The constant movement of people, wealth and cultures within the smoke create new patterns that are ever changing but are hugely influential on Londoners in obscure and cryptic ways.
The interlinking, interconnectedness of this jazz trio mimics the narrative of the great city. Individual musicians with their own geography, architecture and psychology, their connections with each other pulse in the same dynamic and energetic way that the city’s blood vessels continually pump. The rhythm of the city is a subtle undercurrent in the rhythmic interplay of Malija. The city has got under their skin and become part of what they play.
As Mark Lockheart explains: ‘The Day I Had Everything is about many musical things, often styles and influences that have come from our many diverse musical experiences working and developing in London’s vibrant jazz scene. The melting pot of London’s multi-faceted music scene is reflected in the compositions ,to me this is London jazz music , distinct and different from the American sound”
“The London music scene of the 1980’s and 90’s had a big impact. I was gigging with Reggae and African bands as well recording with some of the many London indie groups around at that time- all these things influenced my music making.”
Their first collaboration was back in 2009, when the three musicians recorded and toured with Mark Lockheart’s acclaimed album ‘In Deep’, a record that not only bought these three musicians together as part of a quintet but initiated a long term collaboration between Edition and Jasper Høiby’s Phronesis. Since then, each of them has developed so great a mutual respect and friendship that to form a trio seemed the most logical and natural next step.
‘The Day I Had Everything’ magnifies what is beautiful about great jazz. The subtleties and sophisticated group interaction offers countless rewards. The original material by all three members has many diverse influences including bluegrass, tango , a 1930’s jungle feel and even references to English classical music. Jasper describes the music as “simple, weird, complicated, free, tight, beautiful, ugly and heartfelt depending on your mood’.
’The Day I Had Everything’ is a reference to the sheer excitement one has as a child getting up in the morning and not being able to decide what to do first - everything seems so shiny and new . The coming together of Malija was like this - the three of us bringing in our compositions and developing them into something tangible , then the sheer fun of exploring the music in the recording studio”
credits
released November 27, 2015
Recorded at Fieldgate Studios, Cardiff May 19th/20th 2015
Recorded and mixed by Alex Kilpatrick
Mastered by Andrew Tulloch at The Blue Studio
Artwork by Darren Rumney
String Arrangements by Mark Lockheart
On track 2 and 11 strings by Ligeti Quartet : Mandhira de Saram Patrick Dawkins- violins, Richard Jones - viola, Val Welbanks- cello
Legeti Quartet recorded at Trinity/Laban studio London by Andy McDonald .
supported by 59 fans who also own “The Day I Had Everything”
Yet another very delicious ride on the adventure that is Phronesis. Complex without losing musicality.
Only downside on this is the production has a rather irritating level boost at the quiet end of the tracks. Peter Jones
supported by 58 fans who also own “The Day I Had Everything”
The compositions and their performance drag you right into a phantastic world. Very interesting to be in that place and to forget about time. freejazzy
supported by 50 fans who also own “The Day I Had Everything”
September 2018. It's July 2020 now. I'm feeling that's too long, y'know..?
This stuff's addictive. You just have to get more of it.
The composition and performance on show are in a class of their own. But I say that every time.
This is jazz like nothing else. Peter Jones
A diverse collection culled from the archive of jazz pianist Joe Castro featuring Paul Bley, Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers, and many more. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 9, 2020
supported by 45 fans who also own “The Day I Had Everything”
Innovative and full of character. It's a long time since I've been so enraptured by a release such as this. 4 unique talents 'Together as One'. smithyhouse1