Espial: The Act of Noticing

DISCUS-MUSIC 172 (NO RECORDING DATE)

Inspired by nature as much as they are by each other, Espial delivers an impressionist approach to improvisation on their first outing as an ensemble. The trio of Josephine Davies on tenor and soprano saxophones, David Beebee on electric piano and effects and Martin Pyne on vibraphone, balafon and percussion take their cue from a variety of images and moods on The Act of Noticing (which is the meaning of word espial). Davies’ saxophone swoops and soars, Beebee’s electric piano sparkles and splashes and Pyne’s. vibes shimmer and float as Espial takes you on a sonic journey through 11 freely improvised selections. On “The Secret Life of the Forest,” the musicians conjure up the sounds of animals flittering in the forest. Pyne’s cascading vibraphone notes set the tone for “The Ever Changing Nature of River Water,” while his balafon introduction is perfectly suited for “The Many Colours of Bamboo.” The trio creates sound pictures as they capture the essence of tunes such as “Morning Sunlight Through a Curtain,” “Fresh Snowfall at Dawn” and “The Moment Summer Turns to Autumn.” The Act of Noticing combines the ruminative and delicate sound of some ECM releases with the spontaneity Lee Konitz and Karl Berger delivered on their 1999 Seasons Change release. Don’t let Espial’s music lull you into a meditative state. There is a lot to enjoy on this sonic journey if you just practice what the title of the release suggests — The Act of Noticing.

BOTTOM LINE: What does morning sunlight through a curtain sound like? You’ll find out on The Act of Noticing, the first musical outing from Espiral, a trio of Josephine Davies, David Beebee and Martin Pyne. This freely improvised session of eleven tunes envelopes you in an impressionist soundscape inspired by nature, moods and the interaction of trio members.