Song of the Day: Ivo Neame – Strega

An award-winning pianist and composer Ivo Neame shared a second single Strega, featuring trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, from his forthcoming album Glimpses Of Truth. The album will be released on 26th November via Whirlwind Records.

Ivo Neame’s twisting grooves and harmonic ingenuity have helped establish his distinct voice in international contemporary jazz. The celebrated Phronesis pianist returns to Whirlwind for Glimpses of Truth, a powerful artistic statement marking the first time Neame’s big band compositions have been committed to disc. Neame’s most assured body of work to date will undoubtedly be remembered as one of this period’s most impressive artistic achievements.

Having lots of people play this intricate polyrhythmic music can be really emotionally powerful, says Neame. Taking inspiration from Phronesis’ large ensemble projects, the compositions also played a didactic role, as a way of introducing newcomers to complex rhythmic structures. The pandemic flipped that idea on its head: faced with dwindling opportunities to hear these compositions live, Neame thought I’m just going to plough on regardless and record it all.

Composed, multi-tracked (Neame plays all the tutti sax lines), videoed, mixed and mastered remotely over the pandemic period, Glimpses of Truth embraces the digital on a global scale, as Gilad Hekselman, Jim Hart and Ingrid Jensen appear alongside a stellar selection of UK musicians: Nathaniel Facey (alto saxophone), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Noel Langley (trumpet), Jason Yarde (baritone saxophone), Trevor Mires (trombone), Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Tom Farmer (double bass), James Maddren & Jon Scott (drums), Ivo Neame (piano), Jim Hart (vibraphone), George Crowley (tenor saxophone), and the whole album produced by Michael Janisch.

Listen to Ivo Neame new single Strega, featuring Ingrid Jensen, from the pianist forthcoming album Glimpses Of Truth: