Nostalgia 77 - The Loneliest Flower in the Village

Jazzman

£23.40

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: JMANLP133
Barcode: 5036468001339
Release Date: 27 Jan 2023
Genre: Crossover Jazz

01: Dakar - Nostalgia 77
02: Ishmael - Nostalgia 77
03: The Sun Is Big - Nostalgia 77
04: The Hooper - Nostalgia 77
05: Flower - Nostalgia 77
06: Love In Outer Space - Nostalgia 77

For the past 20 years Nostalgia 77 has become a catch all for the musical life of Benedic Lamdin. His schizophrenic offerings range from songwriting sessions, soundtracks, excursions into Soul and in this case Jazz. The Loneliest Flower in the Village is an album that sees Lamdin reunited with longtime collaborator and arranger Riaan Vosloo and experienced veterans from a host of Nostalgia 77 projects.

'It had been a long time since we'd gigged or recorded so the idea was as much a little reunion in the studio as any grand plan to record an album' says Lamdin. 'The idea wasn't to do anything new (the material is both a few originals and a few covers), more just hear these players and their easy familiarity with each other after the disruption of Covid'.

Playing a clutch of originals by Riaan Vosloo and James Allsopp and covers by long term influences from South Africa such as Chris MacGregor and Abdullah Ibrahim, the emphasis is on strong melodies and open reaches for the soloists. The title track draws upon the song written by South African bassist Johnny Dyani and the result is spectacular; British jazz at heart but awash with references to South Africa and its strong jazz heritage.

'I'm pleased to say that I think this record is the best account of how the band (playing in this lineup since about 2010 ) sounds live. Full of energy and ranging from serene to firing on all cylinders.'

In the studio Lamdin is a regular behind the desk mixing and recording for a host of UK artists. Recent recording credits include:

Kokoroko

Fazer

Jamie Cullum

Gregory Porter

Jeb Loy Nichols

Beth Rowely

Mark Kavuma

Alexander Hawkins

Shabaka Hutchins

Ezra Collective

Tom Skinner

Seed Ensemble

John Edwards / Mark Saunders

Last Poets

Matthew Halsall / Dwight Trible

Keith Tippett / Julie Tippett