Songs For Dead Sailors
Toby Wren
Made Now Music
****
While his instrumental prowess on guitar shines throughout this album, Toby Wren’s true strength lies in diverse musical influences. These varied inspirations, seamlessly merging classical, jazz, Carnatic and contemporary pop, infuse his compositions with unexpected twists that transcend the conventional boundaries of the musicians’ chosen instruments, allowing them to respond to each other with remarkable spontaneity in crafting complex textures and rich tonal palettes. Wren’s seventh album of original music is a psychological exploration of love and loss in the era of tall ships, unfolding as a song cycle through a series of evocative compositions performed by a sextet of Brisbane’s finest musicians.
Together, they navigate classical, jazz and free improvisation with solid self-assurance, producing an engaging album that is a testament to Wren’s creative vision and a willingness to explore new musical territory. The tightness of the band is impressive. The members display an acute awareness of their counterparts, resulting in a harmonious flow of musical ideas that would make even the most seasoned jazz ensemble green with envy. Wren’s guitar work is fluid and precise throughout. Merinda Dias-Jayasinha offers vocals with an emotional incisiveness that reveals the layers of meaning and story in the lyrics.
This album is more a contemporary music album than a jazz record unless one considers a few rhythmic flourishes. It is, therefore, best admired for the sheer beauty of its compositions, its interpretation, its arrangements and its vocal performances.
-Barry O’Sullivan