Simon Millerd - Lessons And Fairytales (2017)

Young Montreal trumpeter-composer Simon Millerd has been performing with Germany's acclaimed Pablo Held Trio and this is the first documentation of their evocative music-making. Also featured on some tracks are the mostly wordless vocals of Montreal folk-jazz singer Emma Frank (her new album features Jim Black and Aaron Parks), as well as some of Millerd's bandmates from Nomad. Millerd's trumpet style is smoky and delicate, somewhat reminiscent of Arve Henriksen. His compositions foreground a sensuous beauty while offering plenty of opportunities for engaged improvisation. The record is also a kind of spiritual autobiography. Millerd cites Coltrane and Wayne Shorter as his biggest influences: Trane inspires the lessons part (spiritual evolution/learning) and Wayne the fairytales (adventure/imagination). Millerd met Pablo Held and his trio when they were all touring in the European Jazz Orchestra in 2011, and a performance with Held's trio greatly inspired the direction of Millerd's own music going forward, but it was not until 2016 that they had the opportunity to play together again. The results are full of feeling and an authenticity that comes straight from the heart.

Tracklist:

01. Simon Millerd - Looking Back
02. Simon Millerd - ACIM Lesson 39 (My Holiness is My Salvation)
03. Simon Millerd - ACIM Lesson 70 (My Salvation Comes from Me)
04. Simon Millerd - The Unwinding Road
05. Simon Millerd - Wherever You Are
06. Simon Millerd - Quiet Now
07. Simon Millerd - Montreal March
08. Simon Millerd - Gnome Home
09. Simon Millerd - The Tale of Jonas and the Dragon