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Astrocolor: Moonlighting--Astrojazz Vol. 1

By Dan McClenaghan
April 9, 2023
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Astrocolor: Moonlighting--Astrojazz Vol. 1

Considering the title of the recording, Moonlighting—Astro Jazz Vol. 1, and its futuristic cover art, the Canadian ensemble Astrocolor brings to mind the mid-1950s/early-1960s music that claimed the tag "Space Age Jazz," an offshoot of exotica or lounge music. It was a music considered by some at the time as schlocky, lacking a serious intent. It is, nevertheless, a somewhat forgotten genre that has taken time's test well. Albums like

George Russell

composer / conductor
1923 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">George Russell's Jazz In The Space Age (Decca, 1960),

Martin Denny

multi-instrumentalist
1911 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Martin Denny's Exotica (Liberty, 1957) and

Les Baxter

composer / conductor
1922 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Les Baxter's Space Escapade (Capitol, 1958) have all remained relevant if a bit underrecognized. Presented initially as sounds that were the ultimate in cool, then evolving into what might be considered cheesy and uncool, they have entered a "so uncool that they are cool" category." And they remain especially fine listening experiences.

Moonlighting—Vol 1 continues along those space-age lines, mixing ambient soundscaping with early 1970s Herbie Hancock grooves, synthesizer-applied electro stardust and interplanetary soundtracks.

"An exploratory trip into deep space?" Perhaps, though the bass/drum grooves suggest the effect of gravity, the proximity to Jupiter and Saturn, and maybe a slingshot trip around the sun that sends things to the far reaches of the home star's influences, flavored by sprinklings of the keyboard spicing along the lines of what is heard on In A Silent Way, trumpeter

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis' 1969 Columbia Records Astro Jazz offering.

After nine tracks of space travel, Astrocolor comes home, with "Coming Home," featuring vocalist Lindsay Bryan sounding as if she was recorded in an ice cavern on one of the cold moons orbiting Neptune. Super cool.

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Track Listing

Star Swing; Spacewalk; Singularity; Nightflight; Dimension Four; Folding Time; Sea Of Tranquility; Bendr; Meteor Shower; Coming Home.

Personnel

Astrocolor

band / ensemble / orchestra

Neil James Cooke-Dallin

synthesizer

Anand Greenwell

saxophone

Andrew Poirier

guitar

Chris Mackenzie

guitar

Piers Henwood

piano

Amrit Basi

drums

Thomas Shields

synthesizer

Lindsay Bryan

vocals

William Farrant

bass

Additional Instrumentation

Paul Kannaspuro: flute (9).

Album information

Title: Moonlighting--Astrojazz Vol. 1 | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Amelia Recordings

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