Dimitri Howald - Ilja: Spiritual Cycle (2020)

Citing Lage Lund, Kurt Rosenwinkel & Stian Westerhus as influences, he’s already appeared at European festivals with the likes of Django Bates (Human Chain project) and the Euroradio Jazzorchestra, conducted by Airelle Besson.

On Spiritual Cycle the guitarist, along with analogue effects and his 5-piece band Ilja makes music that flickers between ethereal and churchlike, to something you’d hear in the backroom of your local pub.

Dimitri Howard’s multi-faceted career to date has seen him explore the outer realms of jazz. Whether performing solo, leading his trio or in this Ilja project, his musical vision stays clear, touching on drones, ambient sounds and multi-faceted layers of sound.

This is music for the curious and open-minded. Wild, expressive solos, beautiful harmonies and energetic vamps, pulled together underneath 6 well-crafted melodies.