"Lash is a bassist and bandleader of distinction, and this album from his Anglo-Spanish quartet is one of his most impressive projects to date." Stewart Smith (The Quietus)
"Extremophile is an adventurous album that manages to walk the line between improvisation and composition, producing an album with just enough form for your ear to lock onto and just enough freedom to keep your ears and your mind interested." David Menestres (Free Jazz Collective)
"The dense sound, easy switches between free and notated, and between standard and extended techniques act almost as a summation of the group's audacious aesthetic." John Sharpe (All About Jazz)
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Iluso Records presents ‘Extremophile’ by the Dominic Lash Quartet.
Contrabassist Dominic Lash is one of the leading figures on the UK/European new music scene. Since emerging from the Oxford Improvisers collective, Lash’s musical career has seen him evolve into one of the UK’s most prolific and acclaimed musicians, having performed with legendary names such as Evan Parker, Tony Conrad and Tony Buck (the Necks).
‘Extremophile’ begins where the group’s acclaimed first album, ‘Opabinia’ (Babel Label) left off. The introduction of Alex Ward (on electric guitar and clarinet) to the ensemble, replacing piano player Alexander Hawkins, gives the band an edgier and more aggressive sound, while never losing the deft sensibility Lash and his quartet are renowned for.
Lash’s compositional approach traverses the worlds of contemporary classical music and avant-garde jazz. Arrangements of works by Cecil Taylor and 14th century French composer Solage reveal the breadth of Lash’s creative palette.
Blurring the schism between compositional form and free-improvisation, the quartet navigate Lash’s compositional frameworks with a gritty bravado that makes them one of the most exciting bands on the European new music scene today.
‘Extremophile’ is a cutting edge release by a band at the forefront of the creative and new music world.
credits
released March 13, 2017
Dominic Lash Quartet are:
Javier Carmona · drums and percussion
Dominic Lash · contrabass
Ricardo Tejero · alto saxophone and clarinet
Alex Ward · electric guitar and clarinet
Tracks 2, 4, 5, 6 by Dominic Lash
Track 1 by Carmona, Lash, Tejero, Ward
Track 3 by Solage, arr. Lash
Track 7 by Cecil Taylor (Unit Core Music Corp), arr. Lash
Recorded by Alex Ward, Bristol University, 4 August 2016
Mixed and mastered by Alex Ward
Artwork by Shea Walsh
Not your average free improv blow-out, this is lyrical, inventive & intelligent. Mellow and beautiful enough to appeal to a wide range of ears. The recording is fantastic with a lovely room ambience. Rory C
This record has such a magical flow to it, it seems to capture so directly the ups and downs of life, the joy of music and dance, and it's just so damn catchy and fun to listen to as well. Giles
The London nu-jazz group use sophisticated recording techniques and clever arrangements to blur the line between illusion and atmosphere. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 22, 2021