Andrew McCormack: Sleeping Acorn, Mighty Oak (UBU0093)

Ubuntu Music is pleased to announce the continuation of its relationship with multi-talented pianist Andrew McCormack, for the release of his digital EP, Sleeping Acorn, Mighty Oak, which features violin virtuoso Thomas Gould.

Sleeping Acorn, Mighty Oak is the logical evolution from McCormack’s highly acclaimed and commercially successful solo album, released in Summer 2021.

Andrew describes his latest project: “A short but varied jazz/classical crossover journey with each track offering something different. We have minimalist Steve Reich arpeggios morphing into lop sided rhythms and soaring lyrical themes. Bernard Hermann style harmonies that transition into something of a party ala Return To Forever as well as epic film like canvases.”

Regarding the name of the EP, Andrew explains, “The title is a modified quote taken from As a Man Thinketh by James Allen:

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs.”

McCormack continues, “As a pianist and composer, I'm fascinated by what the human brain is capable of and its power to create. However, this book argues the importance of taking care and responsibility for your thoughts as the nature of your thoughts will manifest themselves in the real world around you, so be careful what you're thinking!

These themes are shared with some of the pieces on SOLO such as Shaper Maker as well as Dreamcatcher which is a tribute to the great, Carl Jung and his work on dream interpretation.”

McCormack discusses how Gould was invited to join him on the project: "I don't remember exactly when I first met Thomas but I used to see him at gigs around town and he would tell me what a fan he was of my First Light album. This showed me that he was musically quite open. It wasn't long before a couple of performing opportunities came about including the McCormack & Yarde Duo plus Thomas and percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker for a sold-out London Jazz Festival gig and then later Thomas and myself collaborating with percussionist/konakol artist, Bernhard Schimpelsberger for the prestigious Plush Festival amongst other concerts. Around this time, I was recording the sessions for what would become SOLO and I had the idea to invite Thomas to play on a couple of the pieces as a special guest. In the end, however, I felt the pieces with Thomas would work quite nicely as their own EP and serve as a bonus to the same musical world as SOLO."

Thomas Gould shares his thoughts: “I’ve been a huge fan of Andrew’s music since discovering his album, First Light, when it came out in 2014, so it was a huge pleasure to be invited to join him for a few tracks on his latest album. I think there’s always a quality of new meets old with Andrew’s music: the originality of his compositions--both harmonically and rhythmically--allied with his unique touch and feel on piano that, to my ears, continues in the tradition of the greats Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau.”

Andrew sums up his extended relationship with Ubuntu Music: “I'm very happy and excited to continue my ongoing relationship with one of the fastest rising independent labels on the scene!”

Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music concludes: “I began this business with Andrew as my first artist. And, just like title of his latest album, our relationship has grown and developed in extraordinary ways. Having Thomas join Andrew is the perfect touch to a series of beautiful compositions which are certain to delight their respective fans.”

McCormack has built a diverse international career with many appearances at major festivals and concert halls all over the globe. He is perhaps best known internationally as a long-standing member of the Kyle Eastwood Band but also has numerous projects under his own name including solo, trio, a duo with saxophonist Jason Yarde and the pianist’s progressive jazz project, Graviton.

Gould is an artist who “refuses to be defined by a single genre” (The Guardian). He is a violinist with wide-ranging musical interests and has fast established for himself a reputation as one of Britain’s foremost interpreters of contemporary music whilst also remaining dedicated to the core classical repertoire.