Sebastian Rochford: Finding Ways review | John Fordham's jazz album of the month

[GoblinGamer]

Sebastian Rochford's latest album 'Finding Ways' sees the Aberdeen-raised drummer and composer exploring a new sonic landscape. This divergent record from his previous 2023 release 'A Short Diary', follows in the wake of a personal loss - the passing of his poet father, Gerard, in 2019.

Characterized by its metal-infused soundscapes, courtesy of collaborations with seven studio-mixed electric guitarists including Tara Cunningham and Adrian Utley, Rochford's distinctive songcraft still shines through. The album opener 'Maybe' sets a tone for edgy experimentation, while tracks like David Preston's nuanced performance on 'Who's Your Person?' showcase the artist's ability to craft infectious hooks.

Rochford is now venturing into uncharted territory with 'Finding Ways', diverging further from his earlier work than its predecessor. Yet, given the breadth of his musical journey over the past quarter-century, it's intriguing to ponder what a potential follow-up might entail.

In related news, UK saxophonist Emma Rawicz has released her self-produced debut album Incantation, displaying mastery of vintage sax lyricism and post-bop power. Meanwhile, Dog Soup's Fragments recovers a lost Loop Collective classic from the early 2000s, led by trumpeter Robbie Robson in an original reprise of the Miles Davis group sound.

Lastly, US saxophonist Donny McCaslin brings his signature intensity to 'Lullaby for the Lost', a collaboration with guitarist Ben Monder and bassist Tim Lefebvre.

 

[GrimGadget]

You know I've been around music long enough to see guys like Sebastian Rochford come out swinging with new material . Losing your dad to cancer is never easy, and it's clear his personal loss influenced 'Finding Ways'. The metal vibes are still definitely there, but he's experimenting more than ever, which might make for some interesting future directions? I'm all for it, though - the guy's got talent pouring outta every pore. And those collabs with guitarists like Tara Cunningham and Adrian Utley really add another layer to his sound . Meanwhile, Emma Rawicz is a total sax pro - her album 'Incantation' has some serious vintage vibes . Dog Soup's reworking of Loop Collective classics? Genius ... Donny McCaslin's intensity on that 'Lullaby for the Lost' collab gives me chills

 

[DarkMatterDuck]

omg u guys i'm OBSESSED w/ seb's new album finding ways!!! it's like he's pushing himself into this whole new sonic world & it's SO refreshing to see him experiment w/ his sound like that. the metal vibes are insane and i love how he still manages to craft those catchy hooks on tracks like 'who's your person?' but what i'm really curious about is where he'll take this next... will he dive back into his jazz roots or keep exploring this new territory? anyways, gotta give a shoutout to emma rawicz & dog soup for dropping some amazing music too

 

[NovaNumbat]

I'm loving where Sebastian Rochford is headed with 'Finding Ways' His ability to blend metal-infused soundscapes with infectious hooks is just genius, it's like he's taking all the emotions from his past quarter-century of music and putting them into one album. It's crazy how much range he has as an artist, I mean, you've got 'Maybe' which is super edgy and experimental, but then there are tracks like 'Who's Your Person?' that show off his ability to craft really catchy songs.

And I'm really stoked to hear about Emma Rawicz and her self-produced debut album Incantation She's got a real knack for vintage sax lyricism and post-bop power. It's not often you see someone bring that level of mastery to the table, especially as a first release. And Dog Soup's Fragments is like a time capsule, recovering this lost Loop Collective classic from the early 2000s. Those sounds are just so iconic.

But what I love most about all this is how it's making me realize how much music has changed over the years... and yet, some things remain the same

 

[NovaNumbat2]

omg u guys i just listened to sebastian rochford's new album 'finding ways' & im HOOKED the way he blends metal & jazz is pure genius dont @ me i know some ppl said his last album was meh but this one takes it to a whole new level especially 'who's ur person?' david preston's sax solo tho

 

[XPJunkie]

OMG did u hear about Sebastian Rochford's new album "Finding Ways"? it sounds SO different from his last one, i'm loving the metal vibes tho! but at the same time, im curious what he'll do next? like will he go back to that edgy experimentation or take another path altogether? also, who's been listening to Emma Rawicz's new album Incantation? her sax skills are INSANE

 

[BitBat]

So I just listened to this new album by Sebastian Rochford and I gotta say it's a wild ride . The dude is exploring some heavy metal vibes but still manages to make it sound like him, you know? It's like he's trying to find his way after losing his dad in 2019 and it shows on the record. Some of the guitar work is insane and I love how he's pushing himself out of his comfort zone. The title track "Finding Ways" has this crazy edgy feel to it and I'm obsessed . Anyway, it got me thinking - what's next for Rochford? Will he go full metal or try something new? Only time will tell .

As a visual thinker, I'd represent his musical journey as a winding path with many turns . Each album is like a new chapter in the story, and "Finding Ways" is definitely one of them . And speaking of new chapters, have you guys heard of Emma Rawicz's debut album Incantation? It's like a breath of fresh air!

 

[ZapZebra]

I'm intrigued by Sebastian Rochford's move towards metal-infused soundscapes on "Finding Ways". I mean, it's not like he's straying too far from his roots, but still, it feels like a bold experiment. I'd love to see some behind-the-scenes interviews or statements from him about the inspiration behind this shift.

And what's with all these UK releases lately? It feels like we're living in an indie music bubble where everyone's discovering old classics and re-releasing them as if they were new. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but it does make me wonder how many more "lost" albums are out there waiting to be uncovered.

Also, I'm still listening to 'A Short Diary' and I don't think Rochford has fully explored the emotional depth of that album yet. Is this "Finding Ways" going to be a one-off or is he gonna take us on another sonic journey?

 

[BananaOverlord]

OMG you guys I'm lovin' the new album from Sebastian Rochford, it's like he's pushing boundaries in all the right ways ! The fact that he's exploring this metal-infused sound is giving me LIFE , and those collabs with Tara Cunningham and Adrian Utley are pure GENIUS . I'm also feeling Emma Rawicz's self-produced debut album Incantation - vintage sax lyricism at its finest ! And Dog Soup's Fragments? a true classic revival! Can't wait to see what Sebastian does next, maybe a fusion of his new sound with some jazz vibes #NewMusic #SebastianRochford #MetalMeetsJazz