Ocean Floor
Works by Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Gwilym Simcock
LSO Percussion Ensemble
LSO Live LSO5122 51:02 mins
Percussionists are arguably the most well-rounded of all musicians with their feet in several musical camps – they have to be; it’s almost impossible to be a working player without knowledge, chops and experience in several genres – and this album underlines their versatility. The LSO players have a multitude of genres at their fingertips, and this collaboration with composer, cellist and vocalist Ayanna Witter-Johnson brings out these qualities, together with the classy pianistic and compositional touch of Gwilym Simcock.
Witter-Johnson’s album Ocean Floor could broadly be described as ‘jazz’ but draws on all paths leading to that; African, soul, funk and spiritual. She has a way of accompanying herself that is both strongly rhythmical and understated; there are sometimes pizzicato, obviously bass line grooves and other times bowed countermelodies with bouncing percussive interjections. Underneath all of this the mix of marimba, vibraphone, piano and unpitched percussion is simultaneously understated and energetic with magical touches of ocean drum, talking drum and caxixi (small basket-like shakers with flat bottoms).
Despite clear references to West-African grooves – most notably in Forever – perhaps the most honestly prayerful of the album’s pieces is Chariot – a gospel tune with Witter-Johnson’s voice reminiscent of a sunny Motown mood, warm harmonies and tasteful accompaniment by Simcock. There is however a huge amount of integrity in all the pieces and this one, along with Falling made this reviewer’s eyes water.
This is an immersive dip into the histories of Africa, The Caribbean, the Ocean and the musicianship of some top-class performers. Anne Templer