Fresh sounds: Chelsea Carmichael - Bone And Soil

Chelsea Carmichael shared a new single Bone and Soil from her debut album The River Doesn’t Like Strangers due for release in Shabaka Hutchings' new label imprint Native Rebel Records.

Chelsea Carmichael is a saxophonist, composer, and arranger, she played on Seed Ensemble’s Mercury-nominated 2019 album Driftglass. Carmichael currently plays with Theon Cross, Neue Grafik Ensemble, and the Outlook Orchestra, as well as writing and arranging for her own Chelsea Carmichael Ensemble. The song was recorded by Chelsea on tenor saxophone, Dave Okumu on guitar, Tom Herbert on double bass, Edward Wakili-Hick on drums, and produced by Shabaka Hutchings.

Native Rebel is a new platform and outlet for artists to make albums in collaboration with the musician and composer behind Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, and Shabaka And The Ancestors. More than being a label boss, it was the idea of what it means to be a producer. I realised that that's kind of been my role in the shadows in a lot of the projects, in terms of trusting your intuition about musical choices, explained Shabaka, and he added about his label's debut choice: Every time I’ve seen her live, she blew me away. I would just like people to be able to see how great a player she is - the playing on the album is so mature and full.

Listen to Chelsea Carmichael new single Bone and Soil, from her debut album The River Doesn’t Like Strangers:

Chelsea Carmichael · Bone And Soil

Chelsea Carmichael is a saxophonist, arranger and composer based in South East London. She is part of the Mercury Prize nominated SEED Ensemble, and is best known for her touring with Theon Cross, Joe Armon-Jones, Outlook Orchestra, and Neue Grafik Ensemble to name a few. She also has her own projects – her quartet under her own name, performing her own original compositions, and also a project celebrating the 60th anniversary of John Coltrane’s legendary album Giant Steps, which made it’s sold-out debut at London’s Jazz Café.

Born in Manchester UK, Chelsea moved to London to study at Trinity Conservatoire, where she was welcomed into the thriving London Jazz scene. Since finishing her studies in 2016, she has been making a name for herself performing, collaborating on projects, and educating. As well as smaller contemporary jazz ensembles, she also regularly appears in big bands, and has performed with Clare Teal, Jools Hollands Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, and Nu Civilisation Orchestra. She was also chosen to be a participant in the Brighter Sounds Jazz Directors Series, in which she toured the UK with both Terence Blanchard and Courtney Pine.

Watch below Chelsea Carmichael new single Bone and Soil, from her debut album The River Doesn’t Like Strangers: