garethllewelyn
A pretty stunning debut album. The compositions are fresh and bring out the best of the band members' skills. I look forward to hearing more from Claire as well as her ensemble.
lc10
Claire's new album is an inspirational and overwhelmingly uplifting piece of work. The music voices the importance of nurturing the community of the world. A delight and highly recommended.
Favorite track: Eyes Open.
rodgibson
I really love the whole album, especially the way Brigitte's vocals perfectly complement all the other instruments, whether she is singing words or not. Thank you all so much for making this wonderful music for us.
Debut album from a brand new group comprising some of the most exciting artists in the UK, featuring original compositions by pianist Claire Cope. Recorded in September 2019 at Temple Studio, London.
ABOUT THE ALBUM:
Claire writes:
I am really excited to release ‘Small World’, my debut album. Working with some of my favourite musicians, I have sought to combine a strong sense of melody with the textual versatility of a septet. Inspired by a love of travel, as well as the power of human connection and our common hopes, ‘Small World’ celebrates the great versatility, yet inherent ‘smallness’, of our world.
‘A Day in A Life’ was inspired by that feeling of sonder, a word of apparently unknown origin, but one that describes the overwhelming realisation of the complexity and uniqueness of each and every life of those around you.
‘Spirited’ is music inspired by very special trips to Kenya and, in particular, the slums of Kibera in Nairobi. A place of great struggle and hardship, it is also a place where the most sincere generosity and warmth of human spirit can be found, and celebrates the importance of taking the time to understand and celebrate divergent cultures.
The title track ‘Small World’ celebrates all that is the same and yet necessarily different within our many cultures, and is, hopefully, a joyous reminder that for the vast majority of the world, our hopes for a better and more tolerant place to live are universally shared.
‘Sea of Tranquillity’ is inspired quite directly by Damien Chazelle’s beautiful film First Man, a biopic that centres on the personal life of astronaut Neil Armstrong during the run up to the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, and the drama and beauty of Justin Hurwitz’s soundscape as Neil and Buzz Aldrin descend to the surface of the moon via the lunar module. Despite the dramatic beauty of this moment, it is perhaps the moments of silence after that are so captivating, as the viewer is drawn into the vastness and emptiness of an unexplored wonder, and the inevitable smallness of its human inhabitants.
‘Eyes Open’ is essentially a lullaby, inspired primarily by the birth of my beautiful niece Emma, that celebrates the feelings of peace and hope that come with all new life.
‘The Time Is Now’ is a reminder to live in the present, instead of the past or future, and make the most of all of life’s opportunities; to be proactive, seize and appreciate.
Finally, ‘Travelling Again’ is a song that sets the words of the great Chinese poet Du Fu, taken from his poem dated 761 of the same title. Apparently written following a second visit to the Temple for Cultivating Enlightenment in Chengdu, the words conjure the image of a weary traveller finding joy in the beauty of his surroundings. However, the words may also be indicative not only of a resting place for the present, but also for the future and at the end of life.
REVIEWS
"Composer and pianist Claire Cope has released a stunning debut album entitled 'Small World'. Inspired by her love of travelling and human experience and connections, Claire along with her fantastic band, Ensemble C, take us on a wistful and fulfilling journey. Each track has a varied and unique inspiration that is communicated through the music beautifully." Fiona Ross, Jazz in Europe.
"This album is full of choices, decisions , an intricate working between the musicians and as a voyage through life is working and full of promise at times, whilst calm and reflective at others. Very enjoyable and the music reveals Cope as a musician with a deep sense of communication and musical community." Sammy Stein, Jazz Views.
"This is a particularly good, strong debut album from an ensemble that puts across a very coherent, well-written set of tunes from composer Claire Cope. I shall be listening out for more from this group of talented musicians led by someone who clearly knows how to write highly enjoyable ensemble jazz music." SimplyJazzTalk
"Ensemble C’s debut album forecasts a promising future for Cope as a composer, concretizing a versatile vision of contemporary jazz that never loses direction." JazzTrail, New York
"Listening to SMALL WORLD (the debut recording from Claire Cope, performed by her septet Ensemble C) I was transported to a place of hope. Claire’s music is beautiful; imaginative, uplifting, thoughtful and reflective. The beauty is the subtlety; of the journey of a melody, the gently shifting sands of texture and the control of form, energy and dynamic. All in Ensemble C bring personality to SMALL WORLD, with special mention to vocalist Brigitte Beraha, and Claire herself (listen to her piano introduction on ‘Eyes Open’). Finely recorded and mixed, SMALL WORLD is a treasure that should be shared far and wide!" Andy Scott - award winning saxophonist and composer.
credits
released July 24, 2020
Claire Cope - Piano/synthesiser/compositions
Brigitte Beraha - Vocals
Rob Cope - Tenor saxophone
Jack Davies - Trumpet
Jon Ormston - Drums
Ed Babar - Electric Bass/double bass
Tom Varrall - Guitar
Recorded at Temple Studio with Justin Hill and Tim Redpath
Mixed and mastered by Rob Buckland
Artwork by Lydia Orange
With thanks to Brigitte, Rob, Jack, Jon, Ed and Tom for their tremendous talent and generosity, and my family for their unwavering love and support.
An instant classic! The moment I put this music into my headphones, I knew this was something special. After that, I just had to dig into Pharoah Sanders discogrpahy. Sanders was already a giant of Jazz. But this last release, 18 months before his death can just elevate his reputation even higher. Rest in peace Pharoah! Alex Deschênes
No other album of anything close to this quality will be released before the end of the year, so I can safely say this really is one of the three best albums of 2019 (Brad Mehldau's 'Finding Gabriel' & Rachel Grimes' 'The Way Forth' are the other two). Wonderful compositions, gorgeous voice, superb musicianship #simplyfabulous John Ferguson
Based around the question “What is trust?” the latest from Michele Thomas is a bewitching combination of jazz and soul. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 27, 2022
The sublime pairing of trumpet & piano on this gorgeous album—which blurs the line between classical & jazz—is the perfect fall soundtrack. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 23, 2022