Embodied Hope [CD]

New routes in musical exploration are at the heart of drummer Andrew Bain's episodic suite, 'Embodied Hope' - a project with pianist George Colligan, saxophonist Jon Irabagon and bassist Michael Janisch.

An influential percussionist and educator based in Birmingham (and a first-call sideman both in the UK and the States), Bain's own research has led him to study a concept which seeks to link improvisation with the increasingly topical issues of human rights, community and social transformation.

The approach is melodic and full of singable melodies originally conceived at the piano. Each movement is developed from a different perspective, with Bain's intricate though powerful percussion subtly directing group improvisation; so rather than a stated theme and variations, there's individual symbolism in each piece.