Ember
COAST
Art As Catharsis
Four and a half stars ****
By Barry O’Sullivan
Drummer Paul Derricott released his sophomore album, Big Sea, in 2010, followed by the energetic self-titled debut from his band COAST in 2018. After the successful release of Skim in 2019 and Live 2023 earlier this year, Derricott’s compositional project returns with nine more calculated tracks of experimental jazz fusion. His drumming on this latest recording adds a layer of rhythmic complexity and energy to an album of music in which several voices are speaking, exchanging ideas and feelings.
The recording features Michael Avgenicos (saxophone), Shannon Stitt (keys) and Peter Koopman (guitar), each of whom has his distinct melodic lines. Derricott’s drumming blends with their refined textures and dynamic grooves, offering drive and atmospheric depth. His responsiveness to those featured players’ melodic lines ensures that each piece feels organic and alive, making him the essential force in shaping the album’s sound. On my favourite track, Severe Clear, with its light groove animating another emotionally resonant theme, Stitt, Koopman, and Avgenicos are given a chance to do some individual flexing, always supporting the greater whole. The music presented here sits on the fringes of jazz and is sometimes outside what may be considered conventional boundaries. However, it uses its sound palette to create an intriguing musical landscape.