Iain Ballamy, the saxophonist who emerged on the UK jazz scene in the mid-1980s, makes a long-awaited return with Riversphere Vol 1, his first solo release in years. The album features an A-list quartet and guest trumpeters, showcasing the enduring appeal of a musician who has remained a vital force for four decades.
Ballamy, alongside pianist Django Bates, was a key figure in the revolutionary orchestra Loose Tubes, which blended swing, vaudeville, improv and avant-rock. Riversphere continues this tradition of genre-blending, likening the interweaving of rivers to the flows of music-making between styles and individuals.
The quartet includes guitarist Rob Luft, bassist Conor Chaplin and drummer Corrie Dick. Trumpeters Laura Jurd and Ballamy's son Charlie share roles on three tracks, including the exquisitely harmonised finale As Time Passes. The music shifts from folksy lines to raw note-bending, with wistful guitar and sax tones drifting through softly shifting drum patterns.
Ballamy's affection for Latin jazz and north-European ambient music is reflected in two yearning songs by Chico Buarque and Jobim. Volume 2 is already in the pipeline, promising more intriguing prospects later this year.
