Featuring: Toby Street (trumpet); Adrian Miotti (tuba); James Fountain (trumpet); Rob Buckland (sax); Sarah Field (trumpet/sax); Richard Watkin (trombone)
Ulysses Arts Recordings: CD UA220001

Founded by the trumpet and tuba duo of Toby Street and Adrian Miotti, the Neoteric Ensemble is a six-piece group of leading brass and wind musicians based around the professional music scene in London.  

For this deliberately quirky debut release from 2021 they are joined by James Fountain (trumpet), Rob Buckland (sax), Sarah Field (trumpet/sax) and Richard Watkin (trombone) in a joyful melange of styles and inspirations.

Spiked Mojito

It starts with Rob Buckland’s triptych ‘Soundscapes’.  Originally a series of saxophone duets, the movements have been skilfully reorchestrated, adding a tipsy pulsation to the loosened inhibitions of the opening ‘Mojito’.  ‘Fjord’  with a hint of Mawdyke’s ‘Coventry Carol’ is a haunting Scandic detour of compelling melancholy. ‘Bosh’  on the other hand is a sweaty mass of rhythmic interplay, spiked and urgent. 

the movements have been skilfully reorchestrated, adding a tipsy pulsation to the loosened inhibitions of the opening ‘Mojito’. 

Works that reflect on Covid-19 make for absorbing counterbalances of personal interpretation. 

Covid reflections

Misha Mullov-Abbado’s ‘The Effra Parade’  is a bubbling stew-pot inspired by missing the musical backdrop to his local Brixton high street prior to lockdown – a richly infused multi-cultural pavement walk from traditional jazz to African harmonies and a the weirdly wonky in-between.

In contrast, ‘Pandemic Suite’  by Andy Panayi focuses on the virus itself; from its uncontainable escape from ‘Huanan Market’  to its identification and inexorable spread across the globe.

Relief in the lift from lockdown is felt with an unshackling relaxation and a caustic two fingers up to an invisible threat in retreat but not beaten. 

The music, like the virus itself crosses boundaries with a seemingly inexhaustible purpose, energised by the complexities and uncontrollable hydra-like tendrils of the trumpet and sax.  Relief in the lift from lockdown is felt with an unshackling relaxation and a caustic two fingers up to an invisible threat in retreat but not beaten. 

Rasping brass

Charlotte Harding’s ‘Neo’  offers a fascinating fusion of jazz and classical structuring; strong pillars of rigour interspersed with bold statements of funk and bluesy texturing – from rasping brass and improvised arpeggio lifts to subtle settlings and relaxed closure.  

 Dan Jenkins’ ‘Bach in Barbados’,  which draws together influences like cameo characters from a 1950’s Graham Greene novel – a cultured chorale veneer covering darker forces of libidinous mischief.  

It also leads into Toby Street’s ‘Karatina Market’  – a ‘walkthrough’ of Afro-jazz stalls and vendors of rich melodies and silky textures, and Dan Jenkins’ ‘Bach in Barbados’,  which draws together influences like cameo characters from a 1950’s Graham Greene novel – a cultured chorale veneer covering darker forces of libidinous mischief.  

In keeping with the ethos of an absorbing release, Mark Nightingale’s ‘Arriba’  provides a shot-glass swig of Latin American flamboyance to keep the senses sharpened to the very end. 

Iwan Fox

To purchase: https://www.neotericensemble.co.uk/

Play list:
1-3. Soundscapes (Rob Buckland)
i. Mojito
ii. Fjord
iii. Bosh

4. The Effra Parade (Misha Mullov-Abbado)

5-8. Pandemic Suite (Andy Panayi)
i. Huanan Market
ii. The Traveller is Named
iii. The Traveller Goes Forth
iv. Lockdown Release

9. Neo (Charlotte Harding)
10. Karatina Market (Toby Street)
11. Bach in Barbados (Dan Jenkins)
12. Arriba (Mark Nightingale)