JJJJJerome Ellis - Vesper Sparrow (Shelter Press) [Jazz]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's November 26th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
I’d already tipped a couple of JJJJJerome Ellis’ singles for this album over at the blog and gave you up a heads up of the album in the last newsletter so hopefully a few of you have checked and playlisted the album or some of its tracks already. This sort of engagement really matters in today’s data driven music industry, even if you’re not present hit play on a few of your favourites or playlists before you leave the house, it will help the artists navigate the algorithms and rise above the AI slop that is currently further eroding genuine artists’ earnings. The modern music industry really is a nightmare for independents.
I’m also happy to report that his six track album for the ever surprising Shelter Press
imprint doesn’t disappoint, it’s a hell of a ride, though perhaps not for those of a nervous disposition. At times he apes his childhood stutter with his music, at others he’s redefining what nu-jazz can be with walls of machine noise repurposed to free jazz ends. Check the peaceful, deeply soulful, largely minimal ambient piano title track, well until it erupts at the end of it’s nine minute duration that is, but don’t worry there’s a 15 minute ambient jazz meditation that follows it to get over the shock. And hold tight for some sax powered spoken word minimalism, and even some spiritual jazz meets blissful happy clappiness on the album’s farewell. It’s a jazz redefining rollercoaster.
Playlist Companion
Find Ellis in the Slow Jazz Playlist.