Short Reviews [Mark Wingfield / Jane Chapman / Adriano Adewale - 2021 - "Zoji"]

Wingfield has long been known as an adventurous and innovative guitarist, and this album find him in the company of Jane Chapman (harpsichord), and Adriano Adewale (percussion). Although I have come across the harpsichord in modern music previously, it generally has been in the hands of the likes of Rick Wakeman, and not in this sort of format whatsoever. Wingfield and Chapman have been working together for some 15 years, and one of their first joint performances took place in what was once composer George Frideric Handel’s house, situated next door to Jimi Hendrix’s flat. Two very different and diverse worlds separated by a layer of bricks, mortar, and time and that is exactly how this music comes across now. Chapman is not playing a synthesiser but instead a copy of an 18th century harpsichord, the only difference that it has two manuals instead of one. This means there has been no need for double tracking, but she produces more sounds than one would expect from a “normal” instrument. Working with a harpsichord is a tremendous challenge for a composer, as all notes are produced with the same dynamics, so the only way to create contrast is by the use of notes and timing, no changes to volume are possible. Mark provided notation to Jane, but then allowed her to bring in her own interpretation, and the result is music where they come across as equals. Wingfield was introduced to Brazilian-born Adriano Adewale by his long-time collaborator and friend Asaf Sirkis, who has approached his task with relish. He spends far more time on this album waiting for the right moment to add a nuance as opposed to playing throughout. He truly is a percussionist as opposed to a drummer, using different sounds and techniques to highlight certain aspects of the piece, letting the others control the stage. Interestingly, Wingfield also often allows Chapman to dominate certain pieces, yet when the staccato of one instrument combines with the sustain of the other, the results are fascinating. I have been fortunate enough to hear quite a few of Wingfield’s albums over the years, but I have not come across his other albums with Chapman, and I may well need to right that wrong as this is superb.