Inkyra Emma Rawicz

• 1 Earthrise 01:22
• 2 Particles of Change 07:34
• 3 Time and Other Thieves 04:33
• 4 A Portrait of Today 06:25
• 5 Lunar 00:56
• 6 Moondrawn (Dreaming) 04:18
• 7 Anima Rising 06:39
• 8 All My Yellow Afternoons 05:22
• 9 Marshmallow Tree 03:53
• 10 A Long Goodbye 01:00
• Total Runtime 42:02

Info for Inkyra

Now it's time to build on this brilliant start and explore new possibilities for artistic development. Emma Rawicz quickly landed on the scene, studied at the Royal Academy and tried to take in as much input as possible that could point her in new directions. This includes the sextet with which she has now recorded INKYRA: "The album means a lot to me. It's something special; I've been playing with this band for more than three years. We took our time recording the album. The musicians are well known here in England; they are very strong artistic personalities with individual voices.

The influences come from many sources, including some that you wouldn't expect and can only hear with a little prior knowledge: "Some of the inspiration for the music comes from Joni Mitchell. That sounds far-fetched at first, because the pieces don't sound like singer/songwriter music. Nevertheless, I immersed myself in her music before composing the programme. I'm fascinated by the way she structures melodies, how she uses harmony, special tunings and unusual chords that you don't hear in jazz. This influenced me on the piano and, in turn, shaped my work as a composer. It gave rise to my own identity. I also drew inspiration from the lyrics, which reappear in the titles of the pieces."

Musically, INKYRA sounds at least as colourful as its predecessor CHROMA, which was recorded with another band. The anthemic intro, for example, has its roots in the spiritual sound of the sixties. There are densely layered textures that reach into prog rock, as in ‘Moondrawn (dreaming)’, or references to Brazilian rhythmic roots, as in ‘Marshmallow Tree’. Some tracks, such as ‘Anima Rising’, sound as if they were played not by a sextet but by an entire jazz orchestra, while others, such as ‘Time, And Other Thieves’, sound like a mixture of heavy indie beat and shimmering psychedelia, especially thanks to Gareth Lockrane's far-reaching flute.

The album thus feels a bit like a spaceship with which Emma Rawicz is now heading in new directions after her years in London: ‘Sometimes it felt like we were leaving orbit, boundless in our improvisations. As if we could just take off and leave the rest behind. For me, it's like a cosmic journey. We don't know where we'll land, only that we'll arrive together again.’

Emma Rawicz, saxophone
Gareth Lockrane (opt), flutes
David Preston, guitar
Scottie Thompson, keyboards, synthesizers
Kevin Glasgow, electric bass
Jamie Murray, drums

Emma Rawicz
is an award-winning young saxophonist and composer, already making waves on the UK music scene. She has been described as 'a force to be reckoned with' (Jazzwise) and 'a fast-rising star' (London Jazz News). At the age of 19 she has already recorded her eagerly awaited debut album featuring Ant Law, made up entirely of her original compositions, due to be released in early 2022. She has also created a name for herself both as a bandleader and a sideman. A new arrival on the scene, she has already made an impact, regularly playing at major London jazz venues with a wide range of established musicians. Emma is a recipient of the 2021 Drake Yolanda Award.

Ant Law
guitarist Ant is “a game changer” according to The Guardian. Since 2010 Ant has concentrated on making a living playing guitar, eventually moving to London and immersing himself in the scene there and touring internationally. He has also lived in NYC for a season where he studied with his heroes Ari Hoenig, Ben Monder, Adam Rogers, Lage Lund, Johannes Weidenmueller, His 4th album ‘The Sleeper Wakes’ (Edition Records) was released on the 24th July 2020 to great acclaim. Tour booking is now underway for 2022.

Gareth Lockrane
has been described as ‘flute phenomenon’ (London Evening Standard), ‘formidable’ (The Guardian) and ‘an exceptional soloist’ (Jazzwise). Gareth started playing at the age of 10 and after raiding his Dad’s record collection discovered jazz at the age of 14. Gareth formed the award-winning Grooveyard with Saxophonist Alex Garnett in 2002 and founded his own septet which released the acclaimed album ‘NO MESSIN’ in 2009; he has also formed his own big band. As a sideman Gareth has been involved in many diverse projects – such as the late great Bheki Mseleku’s group, the James Taylor Quartet and Phil Robson’s IMS Quintet to name just a few.

Scottie Thompson
is a pianist and composer from Portsmouth. He has performed music in a wide range of styles at prestigious venues such as the Lansdowne Club and Buckingham Palace, and last year played a set of original music with his trio as part of EFG London Jazz Festival. He has also won various composition awards, some of his arrangements having been played on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM in recent years. Scottie is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London; here he has been honing his skills in performance, composition and production, and has had the opportunity to play with exciting like-minded musicians.

Hugo Piper
is a recent graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. He performs and records across London and the UK in a variety of contexts, spanning a range of playing styles. Through growing up in a mix of playing circumstances, Hugo takes inspiration from a wide gamut of music, from jazz and rock, to folk and choral music.

Jamie Murray
is one of the great upcoming drummers on the scene today. A forward thinking and conceptual player with a solid groove style yet he has an open-minded approach to free experimentation. His performances are always fresh and exhilarating. Jamie has a strong sense of writing, his compositions are personal and original with an Electronic/Jazz/Fusion style attached to them.

Immy Churchill
is a jazz singer and singer songwriter studying at The Royal Academy of Music. As a member of The London Vocal Project, Immy has played with the likes of Norma Winstone and Dave Holland and has recently been involved in Jon Hendricks’ Miles Ahead. As a soloist she has performed in The London Jazz Festival with her trio and also alongside Liane Carole. She has also performed with a range of ensembles at major jazz venues across London. Her influences range from Joni Mitchell and James Taylor to Ella Fitzgerald and Norma Winstone, providing her with a wide breadth of musical knowledge that sets her apart as a vocalist.

Booklet for Inkyra