Maybe it is the times that ask for it, maybe it is the cyclical process of revival in music. Whatever it is, there is a definite revival of music that has a firm connection to what is called spiritual jazz.
Saskatchewan, Canada collective Peace Flag Collective are usually labeled as free jazz, yet whatever label you tie them to, there is a definite spiritual jazz feel on their latest album, with a fitting title – Astral Plains.
The album is centered around Jon Neher’s piano improvisations and Travis Packer’s electric bass, with the addition of percussionist Michael Thievinand contributions from guests including Patrick Shiroishi and Nick Walters as well as Paul Gutheil and Dalton Lam, on saxophone and trumpet respectively.
Their initial offering Noteland from 2021 was described as “akin to getting stuck in a sensory deprivation tank with Keith Jarrett”, but this time around, the collective takes a more languid, free-flowing concept of jazz, where spaces between notes have the same value as the notes themselves, creating that free-flowing, astral if you will feel.
The contribution to that feel also lies in the production and mixing by ambient artist Michael Scott Dawson, who also provides subtle electronics, guitars, and field recordings.
It is the kind of musical experience that any listener will go for at the wee hours of the night.
