Spiritual jazz. Communal music. What do these words bring to mind?
For me it begins with John Coltrane followed by Pharoah Sanders (“Pharoah Sings” is the last track here) and Alice Coltrane as keystones for music that’s meant to transcend. Exactly what that transcendence strives toward or away from is a personal thing that is ideally informed by and shaped through the act of listening. After all, if we think we have all the answers going in, there’s nothing to get out.
Ancient Infinity Orchestra is made up 14 players (drums, two bassists, keyboards, harp, violin, cello, two tenors, alto, oboe, flute and percussion), led by double-bassist and composer Ozzy Moysey who had this to say about River of Light:
“It was a joyous three days of recording together with the Leeds based band of 14, combined with a similar sized choir of friends from Brighton joining us. Seeing them meet for the first time and witnessing their incredible dedication and passion for music together, there was such a wholesome atmosphere that was so fun to be a part of. Members of the choir cooked for over 30 people each day, descending, each morning, on mass, to the studio and melting together in the heat of the height of summer. Between tracks, the band jammed in the corridors, sat in the sun and laughed a lot. The atmosphere of all these people meeting in the heat of summer, eating, laughing and creating something together – really shines through on these recordings.”
I’ve been digging in and into River of Light which turns out to be filled with wonder and delight, so much more so when repeated over time as these things go.