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Polyhymnia

by Yazz Ahmed

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $11 USD  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Winner of the 2020 Jazz FM Album of the Year Award.

    Special edition repress with insert of cover art.

    ~ Six panel gatefold Jacket
    ~ 12 page full colour booklet showcasing the original art of Sophie Bass
    ~ Double LP 150g Black Vinyl

    “To celebrate the success of Polyhymnia, I am very happy to announce that we will be repressing the album. This special edition will include an insert of the cover art created by the highly talented, Sophie Bass. I am overwhelmed by the warm appreciation for my music and I’m so happy to have received both the 2020 Jazz FM ‘Album of the Year’ Award and the 2020 Jazz FM Award for ‘Jazz Act of the Year’. Thank you everyone for your support!”
    - Yazz Ahmed February 2021

    Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $35 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Six-panel digipak with 12-page booklet, featuring the original artwork of Sophie Bass

    Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $13 USD or more 

     

1.
2.
Ruby Bridges 09:42
3.
4.
2857 08:30
5.
6.
Barbara 10:24

about

“This album is a celebration of female courage, determination and creativity. In 2015, the Tomorrow’s Warriors commissioned me to write an extended work, to be performed by members of their Nu Civilisation Orchestra, for a concert at the Women of the World Festival, in London’s Southbank Centre, on International Women’s Day.

Whilst gathering ideas for my composition, I came across the character of Polyhymnia, the ancient Greek Muse of music, poetry and dance: a Goddess for the arts. Perhaps inspired by her, I conceived the form of a suite of movements, each dedicated to women of outstanding qualities, role models, with whom I felt a strong connection. Whereas La Saboteuse, the embodiment of my inner-destroyer and the catalyst for the creation of my last album, could be viewed as my anti-muse, maybe Polyhymnia herself became my Muse, inspiring an intense period of creativity, which resulted in the six pieces on this album.

Since its conception, composed and arranged over the six weeks leading up to the first rehearsal for the premiere, the music has evolved and expanded. During the recording process I began incorporating new elements and drawing on a wider pool of artists, including members of my own Hafla band, alongside some of my favourite musicians working on the London scene.

By sharing my musical response to the stories and achievements of these exceptional women, and celebrating the creativity and talents of my co-contributors, I hope to inspire others, in the words of Malala, “to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential” - Yazz Ahmed

--

Yazz Ahmed is a British-Bahraini trumpet player and composer. Through her music, she seeks to blur the lines between jazz, Arabic folk and electronic sound design, bringing together the sounds of her mixed heritage in what has been described as ‘psychedelic Arabic jazz, intoxicating and compelling’.

Already established at the centre of London’s dynamic new jazz scene, her second album, La Saboteuse, made a global impact. It clocked up multiple rave reviews, making many cross-genre ‘best of 2017’ lists around the world, including Jazz Album of the Year in the Wire Magazine. It has recently been recognised as one of the albums of the decade:

“for sheer, unconquered beauty, there are few albums of any genre that reach these heady heights. Ahmed, in diving deep within herself, comes back up for air with a mysterious, wondrous artefact humming in her hands.” the2010s.net

credits

released October 11, 2019

All tracks composed and arranged by Yazz Ahmed
One Girl Among Many features extracts from the 2013 UN speech by Malala Yousafzai

Produced by Noel Langley and Yazz Ahmed
Mixed by Tom Jenkins
Mastered by Robin Morrison

Biographies and cultural research by Emily Curran.
Artwork by Sophie Bass
Art Direction by Sacculi

Recorded by Nick Pugh at Session Corner, Luton, in August and November 2016
Samuel's guitars were recorded in Copenhagen by Katrine Amsler at Valby Station and by August Wanngren at Virkeligheden Studio, 2019
Ralph, George and Naadia were recorded by Marco Pasquariello at Snap Studios, London, January 2019
Additional recording, overdubbing and editing at Tatami Studios by Noel Langley during 2017 - 2019

Liner notes by Tina Edwards

Alcyona Mick – piano & Fender Rhodes
Alex Ridout – trumpet
Becca Toft – trumpet & voice
Camilla George - alto sax & voice
Carol Jarvis – trombone, bass trombone & voice
Charlie Pyne – double bass, bass guitar & voice
Chloë Abbott – trumpet
Corrina Silvester – percussion & voice
Gemma Moore – baritone sax
George Crowley – bass clarinet
Helena Kay – alto sax & voice
Johanna Burnheart – violin & voice
Josie Simmons – baritone sax & voice
Naadia Sheriff – piano
Noel Langley – trumpet, flugelhorn & voice
Nubya Garcia – tenor sax & voice
Ralph Wyld – vibraphone & glockenspiel
Rosie Turton – trombone & voice
Samuel Hällkvist – guitars
Sarah Tandy – piano, Fender Rhodes & voice
Sheila Maurice-Grey – voice
Shirley Tetteh – guitar & voice
Sophie Alloway – drums & voice
Tori Freestone – alto flute, soprano sax & tenor sax
Yazz Ahmed – trumpet, flugelhorn, Kaoss Pad & voice

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