TIME

Saxophonist Jess Gillam’s compelling meditation on time begins with the gentle heralding of a new day, Meredith Monk’s “Early Morning Melody” beautifully segueing into Luke Howard’s “Dappled Light” as the dawn light pierces the clouds. TIME continues on its path through a dizzying array of musical styles and masterly arrangements, each track beautifully rendered by Gillam’s luxuriant tone (Max Richter’s “On the Nature of Daylight”) and rhythmic agility (Anna Meredith’s playful “Bubble Gun”, Michael Nyman’s driving “Where the Bee Dances”). Will Gregory’s “Orbit”, the second of two new works, evokes time’s relentless march, but there are plenty of moments for reflection, including Joby Talbot’s majestic “Transit of Venus” and Brian Eno’s heart-rending nocturne “Emerald and Stone”. The Jess Gillam Ensemble is a tight-knit, accomplished foil for Gillam’s virtuosity.