In a market flooded with new releases by young artists from every corner of the world, it is a welcomed rarity when an album bursts out amongst the crowd and is glistening with maturity of concept, sound, emotion and true empathy within the group. George Crowley has accomplished this and more on his debut album 'Paper Universe'. This is not some casual outing, but rather a true artistic statement of depth by a group of twenty somethings with highly accomplished resumes, who have been developing their musical cohesion and concept since their teenage years.
'Paper Universe' finds saxophonist and composer George Crowley playing his colourful, characterful and melodic originals in the impressive company with peers and long-standing collaborators. Crowley and Kit Downes (piano) in particular have been playing together and making music regularly since the age of sixteen and have enjoyed a long musical friendship, on which the music of the quartet draws heavily. The remaining band members, Calum Gourlay (bass) and James Maddren (drums) are musical associates made at music college at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, where all four studied, while racking up countless hours honing their collective craft. The result of this history, therefore, is a high level of near telepathic communication and empathy in the music, as if they have been performing for decades, and one cannot stress enough how rare this is in debut albums.
The musical world of 'Paper Universe' is playful and unpretentious, but the songs themselves take the listener on a journey from gentle and lyrical plains through to the tempestuous and fiery realms of freer improvisation, to more straight ahead jazz playing, referencing an impressive range of influences, all maturely and fondly treated by this engaging quartet.
Personnel: George Crowley (tenor saxophone), Kit Downes (piano), Calum Gourlay (double bass), James Maddren (drums)
