Gleaming World Unit.

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Moving on Music Presents: Gleaming World Unit as they return to Belfast with a tour-de force line up of Stephen Davis, Alexander Hawkins, Tom Challenger, Angelika Niescier, and Michael Formanek. Join us for a night moving from free jazz and punk, to classical + electronic

Belfast-based drummer and improvisor Stephen Davis is one of the most sought-after musicians and collaborators working today. He is a member of Anthony Braxton’s ‘The New Standard’ and the Alexander Hawkins Trio, and has worked with Marc Ribot, Evan Parker, Kris Davis, Paul Dunmall, Django Bates, and Van Morrison to name but a few. Davis made his name in the improvising trio Bourne, Davis, Kane, whose debut album Lost Something (Edition Records, 2008) prompted The Guardian’s John Fordham to acknowledge the trio’s “world class status.”

His new project arrived in the form of ‘Gleaming World Unit’, marking a new chapter for Davis, and a first international label release (577 Records, New York City). With a title drawing on sentiments from a letter written by Seamus Heaney, he was inspired by time spent in the Wicklow mountains, being submerged in forests for often hours at a time.

Being surrounded by offerings of the compositional power of the landscape led to a brand-new approach to tune-writing, where improvisation and composition are purposefully blurred, inviting the listener to make their own assessment. Ghosts, forests, old photographs and conversations with elders all fed into a novel sound blending elements of free jazz, punk, contemporary classical, electronics, and art-music.

Each of the album’s eight compositions dances with listeners through a range of emotions and vibes, from playful flirtation to thought-provoking auditory art, wildly bold expressions of that feeling called freedom, some sultry seductions, and beyond. (577 Records). This is a project that inspires you to move through its relentless grooves and melody, and dig into heavier, chunkier, bordering-on-hip-hop approach to percussion. Perhaps best viewed in its dynamic live format, this is all accentuated to another level, revealing more of Davis et al’s creative exploration. We are delighted to welcome Gleaming World Unit back to Belfast.

“this is a vital, frequently thrilling calling card from an explosive quintet, whose leader serves compelling notice of his credentials as a composer and bandleader of some distinction.”
All About Jazz

Lineup: Stephen Davis (drums, percussion), Alexander Hawkins (piano), Michael Formanek (bass), Angelika Niescier (alto sax), Tom Challenger (tenor sax)