How much love do you want? How much love do you need? Well, according to Build An Ark you need it in CD sized amounts and this is the lovely first part.

As we know, the modal jazz inspired supergroup that is the multi-talented Build An Ark fronted by the leader in “pyschedelic cosmic love from California” from the Spaceways, the one and only, Carlos Niño. Just in case you’re not quite into Carlos Niño yet, his project included Ammoncontact, The Life Force Trio, Carlos Niño & Friends, Carlos Niño and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson’s Suite For Ma Dukes and many more.

Founded in 2004, Build An Ark with the album Peace With Every Step (pretty sure I read somewhere that vinyl versions are no longer available), Niño’s vision of a LA based ensemble that features the best of the old jazz heads and young underground talent. In the process of re-interpreting and paying tribute to John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, he resurrected the careers of Tribe Records founder Phil Ranelin, Nate Morgan (member of Pan Afikan People’s Arkestra), Adam Rudolph (co-founder of the Pharoahs) and the mighty Derf Reklaw.

Following on from there classic album of a couple of years ago Dawn, Love (Part 1) is classic post-retro spiritual jazz and a timely companion to Peterson’s Freedom Rhythm & Sound CD compilation and book (my copy is on order for Christmas for the coffee table). If you’re a fan of jazz superstars like Pharaoh Sanders, Michael White, Horace Tapscott, Dwight Trible, you’ll love this album; not only that, Dwight Trible is actually on it.

Dwight Trible (see out interview HERE and his own album Living Water and on With Voices) is his usual positive and uplifting self on the track, ‘Celebrate’.

The Van Morrison track, ‘Sweet Thing’ is a bit closer to an instrumental Grateful Dead/CSN&Y tribute that I wasn’t too keen on at all to start with but it develops into a rich string/horn laden jig of sorts. And then, would you believe ‘Fun’s Theme’ starts like The Jam’s ‘English Rose’ of all things. One of Mr. Weller’s best I grant you, but if you’re into cinematic soundscapes of rolling Downs and prancing horses, this one’s for you.

And if that’s not feeling the vibe of Mother Nature’s honey pot, ‘Sunflowers In My Garden’ harks back to Big Chill dawns of 4hero’s ‘Morning Child’ (as an aside, that’s an idea for Big Chill 2010, Build An Ark live and the return of Pharoah Sanders - he was brilliant this year). A bit twee you might think but remember this is an album of Love.

And on the subject of “Love” and all things green, ‘In The Park’ featuring the flute of Derf Reklaw(and if you don’t know Derf’s work, be prepared to be impressed) and with a mass of la, la, la, la, vocals al a Swingle Singers (and on another aside, their version of ‘River Man’ was a big tune at Pete Lawrence’s Big Chill set this year). Back at ‘In The Park’, it’s nearly 9 minutes long and Dwight turns up, Derf switches to percussion and the violin takes the whole thing to the next level. This is as big (if not bigger) than anything on Havana Cubana; yep, that good!

So it’s all about “Love” and we get the ultimate definition of ‘World Music’ in the style of Gil Scott-Heron in the curry house with Jah Wobble’s ‘Get Carter’; as Carlos would say, “psychedelic cosmic love from California”. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if this was his favourite track on the album as “a chop stick, transformed into a magic wand”!

So an album call “Love” without a track call ‘World Peace Now’ would be mistake of the highest order. And there could be no higher praise than to say ‘World Peace Now’ is Dilla-esque with love and respect; jazz at its most poetic and heartfelt.

As I’ve not specifically mentioned it, I must say that the bass playing on this album is superb throughout; but then, so are all the other contributors (even Azul’s ‘snippet’ sounded spot on). And it all comes together on the gospel influenced ‘May It Be So’ that isn’t quite the opus that it could have been.

As ‘More Love’ ends the album, as this is ‘Part 1’, obviously there is more love coming our way. (not only with the bonus track) whether that be a whole new album, out-takes or remixes; Build An Ark is more than one man’s vision and a Part 1 of Love is a realization more profound than you can imagine.

Not only is the timing of this release timed for the return of Karen P to Cargo with a …Broadcasting session with Red Bull Music Academy (as part of the London Jazz Festival) next week but the special guest are Build An Ark with a Zen Badizm Workshop with IG Culture, Kaidi Tatham and lots more too!

With the 4th Jazz Chronicles Session coming up (see details below where I’ll definitely be playing a track or two), this is a late entrant into ‘Album Of The Year’!

Reviewed: Build An Ark - Love (Part 1) (Kindred Spirits) Cat. No. KS028 Release date: 9th November 2009
Tracklisting:
1. Love (2:58)
2. This Prayer: For The Whole World (4:11)
3. How Do We End All This Madness (7:52)
4. Celebrate (5:25)
5. Sweet Thing (5:30)
6. Fun’s Theme (3:23)
7. Sunflowers In My Garden (5:07)
8. Love Is Everywhere (1:21)
9. In The Park (8:40)
10. World Music (6:12)
11. World Peace Now(3:19)
12. May It Be So (5:08)
13. More Love (1:08)

Links:
www.myspace.com/buildanarkdawn
www.kindred-spirits.nl
www.myspace.com/kindredspiritsrecords
www.spacewaysradio.com
www.rushhour.nl
www.futuristicamusic.com
www.myspace.com/futuristicamusic
5th December 2009 - Simon S, Martin Gordon & Gerry Hectic : Jazz Chronicles @ Sixty Million Postcards, Bournemouth 3 to 8pm www.sixtymillionpostcards.com
following on from Electric Conversation, Emanative (new remix EP out in 3 weeks) and K15 (definitely one to watch) together with the ever present Martin Gordon (Brownswood).