Equal Spirits is an international ensemble of 24 musicians from the UK, Africa and Europe, curated by British trombonist and composer, Raph Clarkson. Their debut album, Wise and Waiting, will be released via Ubuntu Music on 26 April, with UK concerts in London and Bristol in May. Feature by Tara Minton.

Equal Spirits is the stuff of dreams. The mere concept of such an international ensemble existing in the real world seems impossible, and in practical terms (given the current global political climate) it is. And yet, here we are celebrating the existence of Wise and Waiting, a deeply moving album and testament to the power of “shared humanity and connectedness.”

Raph Clarkson’s interest in South African music, and its considerable influence on British jazz identity, began when he attended the Dartington International Summer School to study with Keith Tippett (to whom the album is partly dedicated). He recalls with fondness moments of music making, and chanting “Mongezi Feza, Mongezi Feza” in a composition of Tippet’s which celebrated Feza. It was through these early introductions that Clarkson’s curiosity and love of South African jazz was ignited.

In 2018, with the aid of a Help Musicians grant, Clarkson undertook mentorship with UK based South African pianist and harmonica player, Adam Glasser. As part of his development, Glasser suggested Clarkson take his own compositions to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to rehearse and perform with local musicians. Something magical happened in Johannesburg, which Clarkson describes as “enormously moving and special… they took the music and played it like it was their own.” 

From this cultural collaboration, ‘Wise and Waiting’ was born – a project that might never have happened had Clarkson not visited South Africa with his own material as a means of immersing himself in South African jazz. Ever aware of “the balance between appropriation and celebration”, Clarkson allowed his compositions to be influenced, transformed and reimagined by the musicians he met and collaborated with. One such example is the standout single of the album, ‘Skip’. Originally an instrumental composition, Clarkson talks of how the tune was transformed when vocalist Nosihe Zulu wrote her own melody and Zulu lyrics over the top. “It completely elevated it!” 

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Though Clarkson is most certainly the initiator and integral collaborator of this bold project, it is immensely important to him that his audience understands it’s not ‘Raph Clarkson’s Equal Spirits.’

“It’s not that. It’s very much about celebrating the South African contribution to British jazz, but also an equal shared collaboration between musicians now.”

A great fan of the aesthetic of organised chaos, Clarkson relishes the elements of “wild passion and chaos” that exist at the free end of the jazz spectrum, as well as solid grooves, melodies and the clear building blocks of jazz. 

“South African jazz does a great job of painting those connections. It’s the music that excites me, that I’d like to listen to, that I’d like to make.”

It is no wonder then, that Wise and Waiting manages to find equilibrium between so many musical influences: South African spiritual jazz, hymnal and choral music, funk, spoken word (in Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Yoruba, Arabic, and English), free improvisation anchored by infectious grooves, and even electronic sampling by British pianist and keyboardist Eliot Galvin blended beautifully into the mix.

Naturally, the album was recorded in a hybrid fashion between South Africa and the UK. The South African sessions, recorded at Sumo Sound Recording Studio, Johannesburg, included dedicated studio time at the end of each day to capture jams and free groove improvisations between Clarkson and the local rhythm section (Yonela Mnana on piano, Amaeshi Ikechi on bass, Siphiwe Shiburi on drums). Some of these improvisations later became entirely new compositions, overseen by producer Sonny Johns and transformed by collaborations and remote recordings with British and European musicians. In this way, Wise and Waiting succeeds in celebrating the South African sound without trying to mimic it.

Sadly, the dream of a live release in the UK with all the album’s collaborators is not currently possible due to the Home Office denying visas, something Johns and Clarkson experienced when collaborating with Ghanaian musician Isaac Birituro. This uncertainty makes it virtually impossible to get South African musicians over to play the album live in the UK. For now, ‘Equal Spirits’ exists only as a beautiful concept to aspire to. However, UK residents can look forward to a live launch concert with a sextet/chamber ensemble, featuring Durban-born baritone vocalist Xolani Mbatha, Chris Batchelor on trumpet (who also features on the album), Phil Merriman on keys, Riaan Vosloo on bass and drummer Yuval Wetzler.

The London launch is at Rich Mix, Shoreditch on Saturday 4 May, followed by a performance in Bristol at the Tobacco Factory on Sunday 5 May. Wise and Waiting is released on Ubuntu Music on 26 April. 

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LINKS:

Tickets for ‘Wise and Waiting’ London launch concert – Rich Mix, 4 May

Tickets for ‘Wise and Waiting’ Bristol launch concert – Tobacco Factory, 5 May

Raph Clarkson / Equal Spirits website