In Deep
Check out Mark Lockheart’s feature in this months Jazzwise.
“Posterity may come to regard In Deep as the key record of the second golden age of British jazz”. Manchester Evening News ***** (Five Stars)
“It’s the strength of the melodies that marks this out from the mass of Brit jazz releases as his quintet skilfully mix catchy hooks with improvisation”. The Times ****
“affecting melodies, endlessly inventive”. Observer
“Saxophonist Lockheart (Loose Tubes, Polar Bear) has been an excellent player in an over crowded sector for ages, but this new quintet’s gimmick-free collection of 12 strong originals moves him close to the top of the class”. Independent on Sunday
“Tenor saxist Mark Lockheart, a former Loose Tubes member, is a familiar presence from the Polar Bear front line. But though this session reflects some aspects of that quartet’s offbeat, lugubrious lyricism and rhythmic ingenuity, In Deep is Lockheart’s own show”. Guardian ****
“One of the most glorious bits of writing and playing you’ll hear this year”. Jazzwise ****
“The ensembles often have a furious power, and the solos reflect that with their urgency. Lockheart’s work nods to Coltrane and Michael Brecker, but he’s firmly his own man”. Yorkshire Post
“The album maintains the consistently high standards we have come to expect from one of the UK’s most talented musicians and is a strong candidate for his best work to date”. The Jazz Mann ****
“A rich and varied album, warmly recommended”. Vortex CD Reviews
“if you don’t know his work, this is as good a place as any to start the investigation”. Scotsman
1. Mark Lockheart Podcast – 1/8 – 4.29
Listen to Mark talk about his new band and album ‘In Deep’
LISTEN – Click to play
2. Mark Lockheart Podcast – 2/8 – 5.36
Listen to Mark talk about his influences as a player and composer
LISTEN – Click to play
3. Mark Lockheart Podcast – 3/8 – 4.40
Listen to Mark talk more in depth about each member of his band
LISTEN – Click to play
4. Mark Lockheart Podcast – 4/8 – 2.37
Listen to Mark talk about the signing process to Edition Records
LISTEN – Click to play
1. Stairway – 1.50
2. Surfacing – 10.05
3. Golden People – 6.42
4. Long Way Gone – 5.53
5. Undercovers – 3.06
6. Believe It Or Not – 7.49
7. Not In My Name – 7.33
8. Falling – 2.44
9. Sand Into Gold – 5.58
10. Snakeout – 1.14
11. Nutter – 2.10
12. Sunday soon – 5.34
Total – 60.46
All compositions by Mark Lockheart except track 8 by Noble/Lockheart and track 10 Noble/Hoiby/Smith/Lockheart
Produced by Mark Lockheart
Executive Producer Dave Stapleton
Recorded by Dave Moore at Phoenix Sound, Pinewood Studios in June 2008
Mixed by Steve Baker at Galapagos Studios, London in January 2009
Mastered by Mark Tucker in February 2009
Mark Lockheart - Sax
Dave Priseman – Trumpet
Liam Noble – Piano
Jasper Hoiby – Bass
Dave Smith – Drums
In Deep is Lockheart’s first album for forward-thinking label EDITION and it’s a record of great originality and integrity. Mark Lockheart first emerged on the UK scene in the 1980’s as a member of seminal big band Loose Tubes. Since then, he has co-led Perfect Houseplants with pianist Huw Warren and led his own highly original Scratch Band, as well as playing saxophone in Seb Rochford’s ground-breaking Polar Bear.
If the saxophonist-composer had a motto, it would surely be, ‘Do different things and do things differently’. Everything Lockheart has done in his career has had the stamp of individuality and been marked by a determination to plot his own course.
It’s the command and authority of Lockheart’s saxophone that first strikes home on In Deep - magisterial, confident with maybe just hints of those two great tenor titans – Michael Brecker and Joe Henderson. Then the sheer quality of the writing hits you – these are tunes once heard not forgotten. And then the power, confidence and commitment of his group grabs you by the coat and you know they’ve got you.
And what a fine group of musicians are here assembled. Liam Noble has quietly become one of Europe’s finest pianist and you can hear the how and the why on his gorgeous solo performance of the lovely Falling and the quiet, pensive middle section of Not In My Name. Dave Smith (Outhouse) on drums and Jasper Hoiby (Phronesis) on bass make for the perfect rhythm team and their duet on the evocative Surfacing is just splendid. As for Dave Priseman, the trumpeter makes an excellent foil for the leader and his muted trumpet on Golden People and Undercovers are masterpieces of control and restraint.
But even better than their individual contributions is this group’s consummate ensemble work. Time and again, Lockheart’s compositions focus the attention on the group’s myriad strengths – the way that solos emerge from within the composition and are located within it, the way that the music seems to flow organically and naturally from the musicians themselves, as if by some mysterious legerdemain on Lockheart’s part. Rarely in jazz do music and performance combine to such flawless effect.
In Deep may be the finest realisation yet of Mark Lockheart’s talents. Given his undoubted pedigree that is high praise indeed.
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