Watch: Rebecca Nash shares video for ‘IRIDIUM II’ from new album Redefining Element 78

Commissioned by Bristol Jazz Festival, this suite – the album is a collection of eight pieces inspired by confluence of sound and science, is centred around precious metals; Platinum, Osmium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium, and Palladium.  

The music emerged following Rebecca Nash’s encounter with the writings of legendary New York alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher, who joins her on the album, alongside guitarist Jamie Leeming, trumpeter Nick Malcolm, bassist Paul Michael and drummer Matt Fisher. Electronics are provided by Nick Walters and Chris Mapp.

This album signals both a shift in direction, and a distillation of Nash’s 2019 release Peaceful King (Whirlwind Recordings) – an album admired for it its rich harmonic language and sound worlds, that echo those of late Scriabin, Debussy, and Tavener. She explains: “I was reading John O’Gallagher’s book - a method for using tone rows in jazz - and by exploring how I could use his approach on the atomic numbers of the six metals, I found this new and exciting musical terrain.”

Platinum I, a miniature overture, boldly states the central melodic theme, which appears in various guises on each track, weaving a musical thread throughout. An arresting freewheeling trumpet intro from Nash’s long-term musical ally Nick Malcolm follows, introducing the introspective Osmium. The piece opens out into a panoramic piano improvisation then into Leeming’s expansive and spacious guitar solo. Rhodium – a heavy hitting track whose strength lies in the rhythmic bedrock provided by Michael and Fisher, leaves O’Gallagher and Leeming free to tear it up while Nick Walters enhances the piece with cosmic electronics. Iridium II, an accidental offshoot of Iridium I, features a bed of subtle electronics underpinning an impressionistic, air-born piano solo. Ruthenium is an otherworldly composition beginning with a delicate piano intro, full of shimmering Scriabin-esque harmonies, which widens out into a deeply powerful piano and saxophone exploration. The quietly disarming meditation, Iridium I, grows in intensity with Fisher’s drum solos and Mapp’s electronic wizardry. Platinum II, the extended finale opens with a florid solo piano summation of all the pieces before reintroducing the main theme, then moves into Palladium/Noble Heart, Nash’s deceptively simple and beautifully crafted composition which draws the album to a close. 

Redefining Element 78 is a record that maintains genuine musical spontaneity while being meticulously put together by Nash - a pianist and composer who is entering an exciting new phase of her artistic practice.  It balances the creative tension between thoughtful and meticulous pre-composed sections and large swathes of dynamic free improvisation – illustrating the deep sense of trust and connection between the players. Deploying these musicians in an ethereal other-worldly context makes for daring and unpredictable music making. 

The artwork, designed by Brooklyn-based artist Pat Vale, tells the story of a small child who awakens at night to discover another world. Looking closely, you can see imagery of old-fashioned chemistry equipment along with fragments of musical instruments and the architecture of Bristol, Lisbon, and New York, the three main cities that link this project. 

Watch the video below and for more info visit www.whirlwindrecordings.com