Music / jazz

Into forever


Reviews (3)


The guardian

d. 24. Sep. 2015

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By

John Fordham

d. 24. Sep. 2015

"With last year's (...) "When The World Was One" (...), Matthew Halsall eloquently blended the tranquil tone-poetry of Alice Coltrane and the jazz intensity of her husband, John, with sounds of a kindred spirit from Japan and the east. Into Forever expands that lineup with a string quartet and the gospel and R&B-infused sound of the powerful Manchester vocalist Josephine Oniyama ... The Gondwana Orchestra's sound palette is frequently gorgeous, and Oniyama's dramatic presence will undoubtedly broaden their appeal, even if the directness of lyrics may diminish some of their earlier ethereal attraction for some".


All about jazz

d. 30. Sep. 2015

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Phil Barnes

d. 30. Sep. 2015

"While the musicians are largely constant, this is not the same as saying that Halsall is treading water. The sound here is substantially developed and it is possible that this is what prompted Halsall to keep this group of trusted collaborators around him. The headline change is the inclusion of lead vocalists Josephine Oniyama on four tracks and Bryony Jarman-Pinto on album closer "Jamais Vu" and could have mis-fired badly yet actually works well taking the music in a different direction to past albums. First impression is of a jazz take on (...) 4Hero's stellar mid-1990s work with Ursula Rucker, but also suggests critical touchstones like Rotary Connection with Minnie Ripperton, and perhaps in its funkier moments the Art Ensemble Of Chicago with Fontella Bass ... Halsall shows no signs of stopping with this absolutely wonderful record. Another unequivocal triumph".


LondonJazz news

d. 24. Oct. 2015

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By

Mark McKergow

d. 24. Oct. 2015

"The fifth album from Manchester-based trumpeter, composer and arranger Matthew Halsall invites us into a world of meditative grooves, reflective pulsing rhythms and delightful vocals ... This set has a soundscape that is truly its own - rich bass figures, harp swoops, beautiful Japanese koto work, neat drum patterns - which really gives a proper meaning to the idea of an "album" as a coherent set of work ... This is the first time that Halsall has worked with vocalists, and in Jospehine Oniyama and Bryony Jarman-Pinto he has found two splendid collaborators ... "Into Forever" is a marvellous trip into a different sonic world".