Jessica Lauren - Alefela / Shibuya

The latest and very welcome addition to the IMPRESS!VE Collective roster is keyboard player, composer and producer Jessica Lauren, who has been a lynchpin of the UK scene for decades. Jessica’s keyboard skills have augmented the live performances and studio recordings of Jean Carne, Tom Browne, Dexter Wansel, James Mason, United Future Organisation, Demis Roussos, The Heliocentrics and she’s also a core member of Nick Woodmansey’s space jazz outfit Emanative.

Jessica’s previous albums, ‘Siren Song’ (Soul Jazz Records, 1999), ‘Jessica Lauren Four’ (2012) and ‘Almeria’ (2018), both signed to Freestyle Records by her long-time friend and collaborator Greg Boraman, established her minimalist approach as highly original in a scene full of jazz-based artists often overly keen to display all their skills in a flurry of overplaying. Jessica’s music is always sophisticated and complex but also accessible and listenable.

The 2 tracks ‘Alefela’ and ‘Shibuya’ exhibit Jessica’s’ timeless and unique approach, and what is most remarkable is that they and the forthcoming album ‘FILM’ were originally recorded in 1997 and saw a CD only release in 1999 via the suitably millennial themed MELT 2000 label.

‘Alefela’ is built upon Jessica’s stark and hypnotic 2 chord piano vamp, alto flute and flugelhorn state the highly memorable them whilst Winston Cliffords drums lock in with Andrew Kremer’s acoustic bassline and they both pulse and push the music along as Fahan Hassan’s vocals add an ethereal, mystical ambience.

‘Shibuya’ evokes that bustling Japanese metropolis, whilst also hinting at classic library music and theme tunes, Jessica’s harpsichord also blends baroque with synthesiser, electronica and digital techniques as though it’s the most natural combination in the world – a mark of true originality.

That this music sounds simply and stunningly contemporary 27 years after being recorded and fits seamlessly with the current soundscape of explorative, unconfinable 21st century jazz music confirms Jessica Lauren as a pioneering, far sighted artist who was years ahead of the crowd.