Corey Mwamba's new sextet recasts the role of the musician as story-teller, using local tales, archival material and folk poetry.
The music is improvised but with an over-arching narrative structure, entirely connected with the place of the performance.
Intense jazz and free improvisation collide with driving rhythms, folk and contemporary chamber melodies.
Intelligent but never cerebral, Heralds answers the call for communicative, multi-layered creative music.
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Joshua Blackmore drums
Raised in Derby but now in London, he is known for laying down direct, powerful grooves and expressive, always tasteful playing in Tom Cawley's Curios, Troyka, Floating Points Ensemble and Aloosh.Joshua's web-site
Ntshuks Bonga saxes
Born in Johannesburg, the fiery saxophonist has played extensively with the cream of the British improvised music scene. His current group Qwati explores the wide spectrum of South African jazz. Ntshuks' web-site
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Alex Bonney trumpet
This hauntingly lyrical trumpeter has worked with Graham Collier and Hans Koller. He is part of the genre-defying Leverton Fox and leads a vibrant tribute to Albert Ayler. Alex's web-site
Arun Ghosh clarinet
The London-based clarinettist and desperado creates bitter-sweet melodies referencing the South Asian folk tradition. His high-energy band recorded the stunning début album Northern Namaste. Arun's web-site
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Dave Kane bass
Born in Ireland and now a mainstay of the highly creative Leeds music scene, his work with his group The Rabbit Project and with pianist Matthew Bourne and Stephen Davis are both widely acclaimed. Dave's web-site
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Corey Mwamba vibes
Derby's improvising vibraphonist is regarded as a creative maverick, working in various groups within and outside music. He currently has a trio with Dave Kane and Joshua Blackmore. Corey's web-site
the worm
the worm is a retelling the Newcastle folk tale of John Lambton and the worm, with parallels drawn between the "hero" of the story and the acts against society of the previous and current British administrations.
Many thanks to The Lit & Phil library and Schmazz for much valued inspiration in creating the piece.
Here is the score. It has four sections:
chimaera
Heir to a large fortune that he didn't have to work for, John Lambton cares little for the things around him and shirks his responsibilities. On his travels he catches something he later sees as insignificant, unworthy - a worm. He discards the creature down a stagnant hole. He is warned not to do this, but is mocking, arrogant. The worm, having been touched by Lambton, is now linked to him; feels bitter, rejected, and empty. It coils itself in a dark corner and waits.
development (9'33")
The worm absorbs the filth it is left in and combines it with its hatred, eventually revelling in it; a dark joy envelopes it and it grows. Meanwhile, Lambton - to distract everyone from his lack of care - decides to go on a "holy" war that perhaps should never have begun in the first place.
wanton/wanted (17'23")
The worm has grown to a massive size and is ravenous. It terrorises the land, draining it of life. People try to fight back, but they are unable; it eventually ends up on Penshaw Hill, near Lambton's home. Lambton's father appeases the creature by feeding it regularly.
ninefold returns (22'17")
Lambton returns. He is made aware of his responsibility for the worm and told how to defeat it: and after he kills the worm, he must kill the first thing he sees, else curse the land for nine generations. A violent battle ensues. After hearing his son's victory shout, John's dad runs towards his son. Instead of honouring the agreement, they kill the family dog; and the nine generation curse is set on all of us.