On the second night of Modern Nature’s residency at Cafe OTO in May of 2022, the group reconstituted itself into an augmented ensemble for the purposes of a first-time excursion into totally free playing. The quartet of performers would be Jack Cooper (electric guitar), Jeff Tobias (alto and soprano saxophones), and bassists John Edwards and Samuel Hollis. The resulting performance, documented here on Ephemera, is at turns pensively minimal and jarring in its sudden energy. Listeners familiar with Cooper’s recent compositions for chamber ensemble, as well as Edwards’ daring and fiery body of work, will note the contrasting but complimentary elements. The instrumentation at hand makes for an unintentional homage to Ornette Coleman’s Sound Grammar, but the music on Ephemera bears its own blink-and-you-miss-it character.

credits

released June 9, 2023

Contrabass: John Edwards

Contrabass: Samuel Hollis

Alto & Soprano Saxophones: Jeff Tobias

Electric guitar: Jack Cooper

Recorded at Café Oto, London on 12th May 2021 by Rory Salter and Sofia Lopes.

Mixed by Jim Wallis

Mastered by Caufield Schnug

Cover by Jack Cooper

Layout by Bill Roe