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Wildflower: Season 2

By Karl Ackermann
February 25, 2020
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On paper, the UK trios Wildflower and Ill Considered bear an obvious resemblance. Each features the outstanding reed player

Idris Rahman

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Rahman and bassist Leon Brichard, and both groups are groove-oriented progressive jazz. Wildflower is the slightly more melody-driven and the less raw of the two bands, with intricate improvisations interwoven throughout. Season 2 sees Rahman altering moods with his interchanging of the bass clarinet, bamboo flute, and his trademark tenor saxophone.

Rahman is well-known in Britain for his two decades fronting the Soothsayers, and eclectic reggae/Afrobeat/jazz hybrid often remixed to suit the South London dance club scene. Along with trailblazing saxophonists

Binker Golding

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Binker Golding,

Nubya Garcia

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Nubya Garcia and

Shabaka Hutchings

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Shabaka Hutchings Rahman is among the best of the UK's recent cohort of jazz artists. Brichard has appeared on two-dozen albums including those of the two Rahman trios. Drummer

Tom Skinner

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Skinner is a journeyman having over seventy-five recording credits including albums with

Ingrid Laubrock

saxophone
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Laubrock,

Denys Baptiste

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Denys Baptiste,

Martin Speake

saxophone, alto
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Martin Speake,

Zero 7

" data-original-title="" title="">Zero 7,

Sons of Kemet

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Sons of Kemet, and

Alexander Hawkins

piano
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexander Hawkins.

The album opens with "Under the Night Sky"; Rahman's tenor providing waves of deep, soulful saxophone on an uplifting and haunting tune. Brichard and Skinner stay in lockstep here but break out on the succeeding "Mirage" where additional reeds are layered on. Brichard brings an infectious bass line and Skinner dances sharply and lightly around the melody, making the piece intriguing listening. More percussive, and with some exotic eastern flavor, is "Fire," and like "Distant Thunder" there is languorous cultural air spiked with free-flowing expressions.

The two closing pieces on Season 2, "Light In The Sorrow" and "Where The Wild Things Dance" have a very different feel. Rahman switches to clarinet and flute giving the music a folkloric ambiance though the latter piece has a distinct quirkiness about it. Wildflower respects traditional post-bop concepts but their playing is free from the restraints of genre identity. Rahman, Brichard, and Skinner are extraordinary musicians and Season 2 is highly recommended.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Under The Night Sky; Mirage; Fire; Distant Thunder; Rush; Light In The Sorrow; Where The Wild Things Dance.

Personnel

Wildflower

band / ensemble / orchestra

Idris Rahman

saxophone

Leon Brichard

bass

Tom Skinner

drums

Album information

Title: Season 2 | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced

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