Bristol-based saxophonist Claude Cooper has just released one of the early contenders for “Best Album of The Year” in his psychedelic jazz groove oriented debut full-length, titled Myraid Sounds on Friendly Recordings.

Following the limited-edition breakthrough 7inch single “Tangerine Dreams”, this much-anticipated brilliant twelve-track recording builds off the foundation of that first release, blending together free-wheeling saxophone solos with psych-funk grooves, cosmic hypnotic textures, and break beat rhythms. The superb recording has an overall rugged punk spirit to it, as well as touching upon a wide variety of music that has been long present in Bristol including drum and bass, dubstep and soundsystem culture.

Cooper is backed by some of the best Bristol-based musicians, including Reprazent’s Si John and Billy Fuller sharing bass duties, Pete Judge on trumpet, Anthony (Errol) Flynn on drums, Tom Wilding on keyboards, guitarist Sean Snook, pioneering flautist Nathan Flutebox Lee, and cellist Nick Pascalides. Also appearing is famed American saxophonist Jeff Hollie, who’s notably recorded with Frank Zappa.

Overall, Cooper and crew have created a truly phenomenal original and adventurous recording that will certainly be up there with any album released this year and beyond.

Claude Cooper — ‘Myraid Sounds’
(Friendly Recordings)

1. Listen To The Sounds
2. Tangerine Dreams
3. Hardenhuish
4. Bloom Fields
5. St Nicks House
6. Magic Circle
7. Stan’s Plan
8. Holy Water
9. Two Mile Hill
10. Mongoose
11. Stonebridge
12. Forbidden Fruits

BUY RECORD

• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Spiritual Jazz