Recorded at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio with legendary engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug, A Dove, A Lion, A Coast, A Pirate features works by both leader/pianist Luke Howard and bassist Jonathan Zion (Anton Delecca Quartet, Lior, Ian Moss). Joined by drummer Daniel Farrugia (Tin Pan Orange, Julia Stone, Magnolia), the trio’s minimalist aesthetic blends elements of improvised and popular music.

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“The new disc is very reflective and introspective,” says Luke, “and the particular sound created in this studio and engineer suits our music perfectly. The ambience of the piano is particularly beautiful and sparse”.

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This recording has the unique qualities of clarity, warmth and refinement particular to so many of the classic European jazz releases on the ECM label of the past 40 years, many of which were recorded at Rainbow Studio. These are the same qualities heard on Howard’s award-winning release Open Road (the track Spir won ‘Australian Jazz Song of the Year’ at the 2012 Bell Awards).

“The tunes were inspired by world events, infatuation and quiet places,” says Luke, “but they quickly take on a life and character of their own, beyond their starting point”.

 

Luke and Jonathan’s compositions have the intangible quality of sounding immediately familiar. Their reflective and introspective nature belies a deeper harmonic structure.