Between Spaces of Knowing Lucy Clifford
Album info
Album-Release:
2024
HRA-Release:
15.11.2024
Album including Album cover
- 1 Breathe 01:40
- 2 Can We Keep Coming Back Here 02:54
- 3 Drift 04:41
- 4 Where We Listen 06:42
- 5 Sundaze Part 1 01:32
- 6 Sundaze Part 2 05:04
- 7 Sidewalk 05:00
- 8 Half Moon 07:27
Info for Between Spaces of Knowing
Following off the back of her recent EP release ‘Meeting Place’, this latest full-length album serves as a continuation into Lucy’s creative identity and features a collective of Sydney’s diverse artists in improvised music, including Thomas Avgenicos on trumpet, David Reglar on tenor saxophone, Freyja Garbett on piano, Alex Masso on drums and Chris Fields on percussion. Created amidst years of transient living between countries and constant motion, Between Spaces Of Knowing draws inspiration from life’s in-between moments of contemplation, where we meet our real selves. Each track off the album is inspired by defining life-reflections that lead to new understandings and aims to remind listeners how much can be learnt from finding presence in the many spaces and places we find ourselves. The vibrant single ‘Where We Listen’ was featured on the ABC Jazz compilation album ‘Women of Jazz 2024’, and is available for listening now.
As the recipient of the 2022 Jann Rutherford Memorial award, along with support from the ABC Jazz Scholarship Program, Lucy was able to bring this album to completion. The record melds jazz and improvised music with a kaleidoscope of influences from its members explorations in Latin, Indian, West African, Caribbean and American musical traditions. As a result, Between Spaces Of Knowing bursts with both collaborative energy and repose, dynamic grooves, and a melding of styles that translates into an exhilarating experience.
With each track, the complete breadth of the album's musical scope is revealed. From the tranquil of Breathe, the album’s opening track, Lucy offers a lyrical electric bass improvisation alongside field recordings from Sydney’s south coastal bushlands. While swirling rhodes and gentle melodies nurture a sense of calm in Can We Keep Coming Back Here, a track that tells the importance of human connection, rhythmic loops where percussive layers build, break these cycles. Drift, a contemplative ballad that ebbs and flows, pulls listeners in with a sublime trumpet solo from Avgenicos and feels reminiscent of ‘letting go.’ The vibrant and spirited energy of Where We Listen, a track dedicated to honouring cross-cultural exchanges of the African and Caribbean musical diasporas seamlessly intertwines infectious beats and melodic motifs. Sundaze Part 1 spotlights glimmers of sweeping chordal textures in a solo bass exploration, seldom portrayed on electric, whilst Sundaze Part 2 echo’s the quiet power of consistency, as it finds its strength in the meditative bassline that picks up energy and motion the more it is repeated. Sidewalk, a track inspired by embracing perspectives, keeping an open mind and finding presence even in the chaos of a big city, is bold in its groove, and edgy and restless in its melody. Half Moon closes out this 8-track album with its Roy Ayers inspired groove that captures the spirit of this collaboration, one that celebrates the joy of community, communal bonds and collective energy, which is essentially what Lucy loves most about this artform.
Lucy Clifford, electric bass
Thomas Avgenicos, trumpet
David Reglar, tenor saxophone
Freyja Garbett, piano, keyboards, Fender Rhodes
Alex Masso, drums
Chris Fields,percussion
Recorded at ABC Studios in Sydney Australia, on November 29th, 2022
Recorded by James Kennedy and Henry Rasmussen
Mixed by Matt Hiley
Mastered by James Kennedy
Lucy Clifford
is an Australian-born bassist, composer and bandleader based in Sydney.
Originally from Sydney’s South Coast, bassist Lucy Clifford received her B.A in Jazz Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before relocating to Boston USA to attend Berklee College Of Music. There she studied under bassists including Lincoln Goines, Ron Mahdi and Anthony Vitti. Upon graduating from Berklee, Lucy became immersed in New York City’s vibrant music community, working with internationally esteemed artists such as Grammy winning Nella, Javier Limon, Mariza, Maher Beauroy, Alita Moses and Mighty Mystic among others. An active and invested member of the Australian music community, Lucy joined Kate Ceberano’s band in 2022 for her national ‘Sweet Inspiration’ Tour, and has worked alongside artists Urthboy and Emily Wurramara.
Lucy was the recipient of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award in 2022, and as a composer, her music places value and care in encouraging space for exploration, via way of infectious grooves, lyrical arrangements and igniting spirit in those around her.
With an unwavering passion for championing the importance of music education, and an advocate for women in music, Lucy holds her Masters in Teaching, and has previously taught at numerous schools, such as Berklee College Of Music’s Groove School alongside bassist/educator Victor Wooten, and is the founder of Sisters Of Sound, a music education collective for young women.
This album contains no booklet.