Gigspanner Big Band is the brain child of founder and band leader Peter Knight. Originally founded as trio in 2016 the band has grown over the years to the current sextet featuring on the new album, 'Turnstone'.
Gigspanner Big Band is more than just a musical collective, and ‘Turnstone’ highlights that over a spellbinding 74 minutes of incredible musicianship where everyone gets to shine.
Hypnotic arrangements that meld a fusion of Folk, Jazz, Rock and Americana wash over the album with a fluidity that immediately grabs the attention of the listener with it’s fresh sounding take on songs that in some cases are centuries old.
Child ballad ‘The Suffolk Miracle’, first published by broadside printers in the 17th century opens the album with Hannah Martin’s beautiful vocals soaring above the bright and breezy musical accompaniment of her fellow musicians. The American balled. ‘Silver Dagger’, features some dreamy dobro work from Philip Henry and subtle fiddle work from Peter Knight.
Knight takes the lead vocal on ‘What Wondrous Love’. An early folk hymn with origins in the American South, it is presented here as a eerie percussion driven folk rocker that sends shivers down the spine of the listener.
Production duties on ‘Turnstone’ are credited to Edd Blakely and he and the band have delivered a sonic masterpiece. Skilfully blending the instruments and vocals of the various musicians so every instrument is heard clearly and vocal harmonies are sharp and mixed expertly together. In many ways Blakely’s work is as much a part of ‘Turnstone’ as the recording artists. The quality of album presented here is comparable with the likes of Fairport Convention and John Renbourn in the way that both re-invigorated the folk genre with masterful musical arrangements.
‘Turnstone’ is an album that surprises and delights as only an exquisite work of art can do.
‘Turnstone’ is available now via gigspanner.com