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Andrew Woolf: Song Unsung

By Chris May
July 5, 2021
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Although London-based tenor saxophonist

Andrew Woolf

saxophone, tenor
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Woolf has been releasing records since 2012, Song Unsung is the first he has issued under his own name. His debut, which was actually recorded in 2008, was the EP Soma Quartet (Self Produced), made by Woolf, electric guitarist

Ryan Williams

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Williams, double bassist

Will Collier

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Collier and trumpeter

Joe Auckland

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Auckland. The disc celebrated the musicians' shared love of the music of

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler and in particular Wheeler's album Angel Song (ECM, 1997). Over a decade later, Auckland is a member of the quintet which recorded Song Unsung. Between 2008 and 2021, Woolf's culturally diverse recording history has included, among others, Madwort Sax Quartet, Ghanaian percussionist Afla Sackley's aggregation Afrik Bawantu, and Alvorada, who specialise in Brazilian choro music.

Alongside Woolf and Auckland, the Song Unsung quintet features guitarist

Rob Updegraff

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Updegraff (

Julia Biel

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Julia Biel,

Gregory Porter

vocals
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Gregory Porter), double bassist

Dave Mannington

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Mannington (

Yazz Ahmed

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Yazz Ahmed,

Julian Arguelles

saxophone
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Arguelles) and drummer

Simon Roth

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Simon Roth (

Elliot Galvin

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Elliot Galvin,

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter). The band plays thoughtful, melodic, uplifting music which has echoes of the aforementioned Angel Song, though not necessarily that album's melancholic air—Woolf's cover art may suggest autumn (can you see any leaves on the trees?), but aside from a few darker passages, the general vibe is brighter. All but one of the pieces were composed by Woolf, and the title track was inspired by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, who, incidentally, similarly inspired brother and sister, clarinetist

Idris Rahman

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Idris Rahman and pianist

Zoe Rahman

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Zoe Rahman's lovely Where Rivers Meet, released on Manushi Records in 2008. You may also hear resonances with the music of

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano and

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell, musicians Woolf admires.

Song Unsung was self produced and was completed with the help of a crowdfunding campaign. The campaign was successful and is now closed, and the YouTube clip below is included not to raise funds but to provide a taste of the album.

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Track Listing

Trieste; Miragem de Ina��; Sway; Skyward; Twenty Years Ago; Paradise; Song Unsung.

Personnel

Andrew Woolf

saxophone, tenor

Joe Auckland

trumpet

Rob Updegraff

guitar

Dave Manington

bass

Simon Roth

drums

Album information

Title: Song Unsung | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Oti-O Records

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