When Sebastian Rochford, a gifted drummer and composer hailing from Aberdeen, made his mark in the music industry at the dawn of the new millennium, he quickly became known for his distinctive fusion of influences. Drawing inspiration from jazz icons of the 1950s and 1960s such as Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, he seamlessly integrates elements of rock, funk, and diverse global sounds. Since 2002, his innovative saxophone-driven group Polar Endure has received nominations for esteemed accolades including the Mercury Prize, MOBO Awards, and Urban Music Awards—an notable feat within the instrumental jazz genre. Furthermore, rochford has collaborated with prominent artists like Acoustic Ladyland, Basquiat Strings, Fulborn Teversham,Sons of Kemet, as well as renowned figures such as Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, and Adele.
The album *Discovering Ways* emerges as a heartfelt continuation following 2023’s *A Swift Diary*, which was co-created with pianist Kit Downes. This recent work poignantly reflects on Rochford’s deep sense of loss after his father Gerard passed away in 2019. The title *Discovering Ways* is deliberate; this album features an eclectic mix of edgy metallic tones produced by seven studio-mixed electric guitarists—including improvisational artist Tara Cunningham and Portishead’s Adrian Utley—alongside Simon Tong from The Verve. Nevertheless, it is Rochford’s unique melodic chemistry that remains at the forefront; enriched by complex textures and characterized by his signature rhythmic unpredictability.
The opening track “perchance” begins with a sharp rhythm-guitar riff that evolves into fragmented atonal improvisation. In contrast,”Being Outdoors” showcases chord progressions that reflect Rochford’s early punk-rock influences. Noteworthy highlights include UK jazz guitarist David Preston’s rendition of “Who’s Your Person?”, along with “Community,” which incorporates reggae elements into its framework; additionally,”What You Keep in Your Heart” exudes a romantic pop quality. Similar to *A Quick Diary*, this new project sees Rochford embarking on an introspective exploration through personal memories—though it significantly diverges from its predecessor. Given this artist’s extensive sonic journey over approximately twenty-five years , one can only ponder where his next musical adventure may take him.
New Releases This Month
UK saxophonist Emma Rawicz‘s self-produced debut album *Incantation*, recorded during her student days at just nineteen years old , stands out as an impressive display of modern saxophone lyricism infused with post-bop vitality .Her latest offering titled *Inkyra* (ACT) sees her reuniting with her regular live ensemble featuring flautist Gareth Lockrane and guitarist David Preston. Together they delve into ten mesmerizing original compositions that navigate dreamy cinematic soundscapes , rapid polyrhythmic tenor-sax grooves ,and atmospheric meditative pieces . Meanwhile ,the band Dogs Soup‘s album *Fragments* (Dark Circles Recordings) resurrects a lost classic from Loop Collective—a group led by trumpeter Robbie Robson—which presents an inventive reinterpretation reminiscent of Miles Davis’ late-1960s soundscapes under drummer Tim Giles’ dynamic influence . Lastly ,US saxophonist Donny McCaslin—renowned for his contributions to Bowie’s final project Blackstar—explores avant-garde rock-infused jazz depths onhis new release titled *Lullaby for the Lost* (Version), featuring collaborations with guitarist Ben Monder and bassist Tim Lefebvre.