Movements in Colour

Personnel: Andy Sheppard (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Parricelli (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Eivind Aarset (guitar, electric guitar, electronics); Arild Andersen (double bass, electronics); Kuljit Bhamra (tabla, percussion).
Audio Mixers: Gérard De Haro; Manfred Eicher; Andy Sheppard .
A new set by British saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard is always a welcome proposal, but his 13th album, and 14th release overall, also happens to be his debut for ECM. The music on MOVEMENTS IN COLOR is an ambitious, but utterly lyrical blend of Latin, Middle Eastern, and post-bop, and it is realized by musicians such as jazz guitarist John Parricelli (who plays acoustically here) and tabla player Kuljit Bhamra--members of Sheppard's regular quartet -- guitarist and electronic musician Eivind Aarset, and double bassist Arild Andersen, who also plays some electronics. MOVEMENTS IN COLOR is a wonderfully breezy, airy, but very sophisticated recording that places an unusual instrument (the tabla) at the center of a jazz group that defies expectations.