One of my favorite albums at the moment is UK trumpeter and composer Laura Jurd’s new album Rites & Revelations. It was released in October last year. All of her albums is something new, and sounds unmistakably like Jurd at the same time – always exploring, one never knows what comes next, and this new album is no exception.

Jurd is generally described as a jazz musician, but she is much more than that. Drawing inspiration not only from jazz (new and old), but also, rock, folk and classical music. The folk and rock inspiration is dominating on the new album, but there are plenty of jazz improvisation as well.

Unusual instrumentations is a common theme between most of her albums. This time the band consists of Laura Jurd on trumpet, Martin Green on accordion, Ultan O’Brien on violin and viola, Ruth Goller on electric bass, and Corrie Dick on Drums. Although the press release says that the album was recorded “mostly live with minimal overdubs”, the production is an important part of the album too.

There are far between great composers in jazz – not surprisingly, since the genrers main focus is improvisation and instrumental virtuosity. Laura Jurd is one of the few who can really write. The music ranges from catchy folk tunes like You Again to noisy improvisations like Life, to the Ellingtonian Praying Mantis. Like Duke Ellingtons many suites that he composed from the 50s on, the album is held together by an overall mood; and like Ellington too, she manages to combine improvisation and composition into a coherent pieces of music. Highly recommended album!

• More information about Laura Jurd on her website: www.laurajurd.com
• My previous post about Jurd and Ellington is available here