I Hold the Lion’s Paw: ‘Potentially Interesting Jazz Music’

Challenging and fascinating, ‘Potentially Interesting Jazz Music’ from I Hold the Lion’s Paw is equally experimental and exciting.

After taking a listen to Iridescence from Danny Widdicombe and Trichotomy a few weeks ago, Earshift Music has provided my second Australian album to review and the I Hold the Lion’s Paw ensemble have sent me something special.

Celebrated and award-winning trumpeter Reuben Lewis ignores all the boundaries sometimes imposed by genre and expectation with the experimental ensemble I Hold the Lion’s Paw. Formed a decade ago, Lewis et al are determinedly pushing all those boundaries, while providing exceptional and elegant jazz that requires all ears to be open.

It’s all deliberate. Lewis says: “I want the audience to join us in a genre rebellion. Our music is about the journey - we’ve never been interested in style or convention. My role as bandleader is simply to keep the door open to possibility.”

And this band is clearly open to all possibilities. Joining Reuben Lewis (trumpet, synths, pedals) are Emily Bennett (voice, synths, lyrics, vocal composition), Adam Halliwell (bass guitar, guitar, double neck guitar, 12-string guitar, flute) and Ronny Ferella (drums, percussion), with guest appearances from Tariro Mavondo (poetry, voice) and Michelle Nicolle (voice).

It took the ensemble just seven hours to record this album and they take us through grooves, spoken word, improvisation and electronics in these nine precise and yet free-flowing tracks. Potentially Interesting Jazz Music combines all that in the title track, with horns, guitars and synths sitting alongside fascinating rhythms.

The ‘meta’ approach of a jazz album that explores what a jazz album can be starts with the opening Level Check that tumbles through descriptive, poetic and intimate spoken word into Voodoo. The poetry of guest artist Tariro Mavondo is brilliantly bold.

The drums, voice and trumpet interplay on When the Earth and Sky Conspired expands into a frenetic end to this extraordinary (in a VERY good way) album.