| Jazz |
If you’re drawn to albums steeped in poetic tenderness, Seascape will welcome you with open arms. This record is more than a meeting of remarkable musicians, it’s a collection of exquisite compositions and arrangements paired with lyrics that resonate just as deeply. Recorded in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Seascape is a testament to the power of collaboration and musical storytelling. Inspired by the rhythm and mystery of the ocean, the album captures a spirit of exploration and the profound depths of jazz improvisation.
The musicians themselves seem to have been touched by the grace of the music they brought to life.
Joe LaBarbera reflects: “I’m very glad Jim Vivian asked me to be a part of this beautiful project. All the musicians in The Atlantic Jazz Collective are first-rate players, and our chemistry in the studio made the whole process a real pleasure from beginning to end. We had a great time creating this music, now it’s your turn to enjoy it!”
Norma Winstone adds: “I’ve had a long musical relationship with Canadian jazz musicians. I first met Mike Murley and Jim Vivian when Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and I recorded with the Maritime Jazz Orchestra many years ago. So when Jim invited me to do a concert and recording in St. John’s, I was delighted to reconnect both musically and personally. It was also a joy to meet and play with Florian, and an added pleasure to reunite with the wonderful Joe LaBarbera, whom I first met in Canada some years ago and later recorded with on my album Well Kept Secret with Jimmy Rowles. I feel everything came together beautifully, and I’m looking forward to touring with the group.”
Is this music to listen to? To admire? Perhaps a bit of both. At times, listening to this album feels like standing before a painting, colors and brushstrokes moving before your eyes. The sung passages especially evoke this sensation: everything has been so masterfully crafted to be savored. All it takes is a moment of stillness, a willingness to listen, and to be carried away by the album’s nine compositions. It’s an easy surrender, nothing here will jar or trouble the soul.
The Atlantic Jazz Collective, featuring Juno Award winners Mike Murley and Florian Hoefner, along with acclaimed bassist Jim Vivian, presents their highly anticipated debut album, Seascape. They are joined by renowned vocalist Norma Winstone and legendary drummer Joe LaBarbera.
When a collective of artists finds such perfect harmony, the magic is instantaneous. Rooted in classical influences and shaped with classical precision, this group ventures into jazz with a sense of daring, surprising, never redundant, and pouring as much passion into their instruments and voices as into their silence. This kind of artistry feels rare, intimate, cerebral, perhaps even spiritual.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor for All About Jazz
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 24th 2025
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Musicians: Mike Murley, Florian Hoefner, Norma Winstone, Jim Vivian, Joe LaBarbera
Track Listing:
Distant Star
Where Do We Go From Here
Turn Again
Always By Your Side
Trying To Recall
Running Through My Head
This Is New
Widow In The Window
Raffish