Composer, trumpeter, flugelhorn player and band-leader Yazz Ahmed is back for a fourth studio album that builds on her rich catalogue of beautifully honed, story-telling, deep musical dives. Each of her albums have taken her closer and closer to her Bahrani heritage and “A paradise in the hold” embraces this fully as she draws on traditional music and stories from the country that was her home until she was nine. To learn more about the project, the first for which she has also music for voice and lyrics (brilliantly by the way), I strongly urge you to read what she says on her own website here
But these words from Yazz are a good intro to her journey “A thread in my work has been searching for, establishing and, now, finally embracing and celebrating my cultural identity” … “If my first album, 2011’s Finding My Way Home, represents the first steps on this path then with A Paradise In The Hold, I’ve arrived at a deeper understanding of how my British and Bahraini heritage can co-exist, in personal as well as musical terms.”
The album boasts a wonderful cast of musicians, presumably across multiple sessions, including some great vibes playing from Ralph Wyld, keys from Alcyona Mick, vocals from both Natacha Atlas and the superb Brigitte Beraha. There’s also an appearance from the brilliant drummer Martin France who sadly died last year.
Check out what Yazz has to say about the album. Hear multiple tunes of One Jazz. Get yourself a vinyl copy of the album, because like all her recent releases it’s a (collectable) thing of beauty.
This is our album of the week for the week commencing 10th March 2025