Life to Everything
1. Urban Control (Anton Eger) 2. Phraternal (Ivo Neame) 3. Behind Bars (Jasper Høiby) 4. Song for Lost Nomads (Ivo Neame) 5. Wings 2 the Mind (Jasper Høiby) 6. Nine Lives (Jasper Høiby) 7. Deep Space Dance (Ivo Neame) 8. Herne Hill (Anton Eger) 9. Dr Black (Anton Eger) Life to Everything is the new live album by Anglo/Scandinavian trio Phronesis, recorded over three shows ‘in the round’ at The Cockpit, London as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival in November 2013. Since the success of their fourth album ‘Walking Dark’ two years ago, the trio have been on a meteoric rise, gaining acclaim from fans over two tours of the USA and Canada and a tour of Australia, whilst also rising to the forefront of the European club and festival scene. With so much time spent on the road and a reputation for spell-binding roller-coaster live performances, (which led to Jazzwise once describing them as one of the most exciting bands on the planet), it was natural for the band to want to record their fifth album in front of a live audience. In Høiby’s words – ‘performing live has been the strength of this trio from the start – it sparks an extra focus, excitement and joy. As the album title suggests – it’s where everything comes to life’.
<p>This edited live album feels like exactly the right way for Phronesis to get their powerful message across, writes <strong>John Fordham</strong></p>
There's something about the way in which the musical surfaces of album opener “Urban Control” glitter and sparkle that immediately announces you're listening to a Phronesis recording. By the time Danish bassist Jasper Høiby reaches the end of his first, elegantly constructed, descending phrase, you already sense the impending explosion of motifs and rhythmic energy that it will detonate. And, sure enough, once British pianist Ivo Neame and Swedish drummer Anton Eger are brought into play, the trio's characteristically rich counterpoint takes on an unstoppable momentum.