John Williamson / The Northern Sea
Release Date: 12th July 2024
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0182
John Williamson (Photographer: Tom Sankey)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of UK bassist John Williamson, for the release of The Northern Sea, his upcoming debut album on Ubuntu Music.
This release is John’s first as composer/bandleader, drawing on an array of musical tastes and influences within and beyond his work as a jazz bassist. He aimed for stylistic freedom, holding the work together with a focused melodic instinct and a modernist, occasionally angular approach that has guided his journey in music.
Each piece developed from a small fragment, honed and reworked in duo practice sessions in corridors, large-ensemble rehearsals, and intimate jazz club gigs around the UK. The five other bandmembers comprise some of the UK’s finest improvisers and composers. Each – along with producer Nikki Iles – have played an important role in the development of the material. Together, the music expresses the tension between love for a sound, idea or place and accompanying feelings of subversion or doubt.
Nikki Iles (Photographer: Tom Sankey)
John describes the music from The Northern Sea: “The material is arranged for a variety of line-ups, from duo to full sextet, relying on the commitment and invention of the musicians to build a coherent sound.”
“Individual influences that can be traced include Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Radiohead, Charles Mingus and Carla Bley, and the music encompasses a wide range of feelings and approaches. Angular post-bop (‘Contrafact 1’) sits alongside big-sky, Americana-inspired folk (‘2700 Q Street Northwest’) and anthemic contemporary jazz (title track ‘The Northern Sea’). The album is united by a ‘melody-first’ writing style. Each piece stays true to the core melodic line, whether that melody is pushing against the boundaries of a conventional harmonic structure or working as a scaffold for something more unusual.”
Alex Hitchcock, John Williamson (Photographer: Tom Sankey)
John continues, regarding his new relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I am really excited to be releasing my first album with Ubuntu. Their progressive approach, knowhow, and a varied roster of artists I respect and am inspired by made it an attractive choice. I’m so grateful to Martin for being interested in the project and his support and guidance in getting my original music into the world.”
Jay Davis, Alex Wilson, Immy Churchill, Jonny Mansfield (Photographer: Tom Sankey)
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “It was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise to be introduced to John and his highly intriguing, dynamic music. John has pulled together a seriously talented range of young London musicians – Alex Hitchcock (sax), Jonny Mansfield (vibes), Jay Davis (drums), and special guests Immy Churchill (vocals) and Alex Wilson (piano) – and delivered a first-rate recording with ‘The Northern Sea’, which was beautifully produced by Nikki Iles. We are absolutely thrilled to be John’s partner, welcoming John and the team to our Ubuntu Music Family.”
For further information, please contact:
John Williamson (Artist): jjw@fastmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
JOHN WILLIAMSON BIOGRAPHY
Raised in Saltburn-by-the-sea in northeast England, John has spent time in Leeds, Washington DC and now London, where he has played with musicians including Helena Kay, Dominic Ingham, Nigel Price, Jo Harrop, Paul Edis, Vasilis Xenopoulos, Matt Anderson, and Sam Braysher. John earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, tutored by luminaries including Kit Downes, Nikki Iles, Jim Hart, Jasper Hoiby, Tom Herbert and Orlando Le Fleming, and in 2023 received the Academy’s Scott Philbrick Prize for outstanding postgraduate jazz recital.
Website: https://johnjosephwilliamson.com/
