'Terrarium' marks the new album release from Scottish bassist, composer and bandleader, Ali Watson.
The increasing amount of innovative Scottish talent that continue to make an indelible contribution to the broad landscape that is contemporary jazz shows no signs of diminishing any time soon. Already boasting a selection of incredible talent including Fergus McCreadie, Sophie Bancroft, Fat-Suit and Nimbus Sextet, Scotland can further lay claim to hosting the boundless talents of Ali Watson whose new full-length project certainly comes with high expectations.
Following on from his release in 2021 as head of the Ali Watson Trio, alongside Tim Lallemant and Tom Potter, the collective's sublime 'Moss' EP tentatively lays the groundwork for ideas that are perhaps more realised and fleshed out in 'Terrarium'.
There's a compelling contradiction in how one can interpret 'Terrarium' as a whole - on one hand, as heavily alluded to by the album's title and in comments released along with the album, there's a private solace that Watson seems to use the music here to reflect. The idea of an almost romanticised solitude that affords us all the luxury of removing the pressures, demands and stresses of everything that waits for us outside our front door.
Conversely, 'Terrarium' very much serves as a love letter to home. It's an album that equally seems to celebrate Scotland and can be deemed very much to be steeped in Scottish tradition. From the sublime twinges of Scottish folk that subtly embed themselves within Watson's compositions to the album's song titles that celebrate the land and environment itself to the sheer marvel of reindeer featuring on the album's cover - whether you find yourself locked away in your own private fantasy or whether you're embracing the reality of nature that lays in front of you, there's magic all around us which is what Ali Watson elegantly taps for this release.
'Terrarium' is brought to scintillating life thanks to a selection of leading Scottish talent which includes long-time Watson friends and collaborators in saxophonist Matt Carmichael, pianist Alan Benzie and drummer Greg Irons. The album's nine compositions represent an exquisite array of spirited performances alongside more introspective pieces that each generate some truly superb moments from all involved. The Watson-solo of 'Earth', the tenderness of 'Solace' and the absolute treasure of 'Evening Song' are strong standouts amidst an album with too many to pinpoint.
Ali Watson delivers an inspired statement of intent with 'Terrarium'. A fantastic album that waves the flag once more for Scottish jazz but that also hails the arrival of Watson as a compulsory voice for the genre.
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