Elliot Lamb - Between Worlds

Powerfully moving music

Buy | Stream (Bandcamp) | Stream (sampler)

This might be a bit of nepotism here, as I am on this recording. But who cares, because I love this album! There is nothing wrong with sharing amazing music that is made by close friends.

Between Worlds is a 6 part suite composed by the wonderful Melbourne based trombonist Elliot Lamb. They were given the opportunity to write and present this from the Melbourne International Jazz Festival as a part of the Take Note Program in 2021. This is a program the jazz festival runs to support and promote female and gender diverse artists.

Elliot wrote what can only be described as a powerfully personal suite of music. When they performed it at the Jazzlab back in 2021, there was that feeling in the air that this is something special, something deeper that needed your full attention. As I mentioned before, I did play for this, but I am sure everyone in the room was feeling the same - that this is something special. The room was packed, but you could hear a pin drop. It was mesmerising.

The album was recorded in 2023, and features some of Melbourne’s finest improvisers - Elliot Lamb on trombone, Flora Carbo on alto and bass clarinet, Niran Dasika on trumpet, Stella Anning on guitar, Selene Messinis on piano, Oscar Neyland on bass, Maddison Carter on drums and myself on tenor and clarinet.

The opening Track Flying, Falling starts with Elliot’s solo trombone playing a spacious melody, inviting you into the story - instantly engaging you in the music. The horns come in with some lush harmonies after this and repeat the melody again. Broad and beautiful, you just know you are in for a stunning journey.

I do not want to speak for Elliot, and I am not even going to try. This is a deeply personal story for them, that is ever continuing. It is a privilege that we get to share in it as listeners, the album is an invitation into their life, their journey so far. Nothing is taken for granted here.

Each piece in Between World can be listened to on its own, but really come together in one sitting. You get to feel the highs and lows that Elliot has crafted for the ensemble. The end of the track sinking is as high-octane as the suite has got up to this point, and gives a sense of strength and panic all at the same time. This moves into Drowning, a floating extended improvisation with the horns over a bed made by the rhythm section. Giving space to reflect, while still having an energy to it, a wanting to grow.

Breaking, the second last piece of the suite was for me as a performer a highlight. A janky (in a very positive sense!) melody that feels fantastic to play, moving to highly emotive improvising. I have to thank Elliot here, as they let me do one of my favourite things and play some seriously cathartic saxophone! I hope this comes across to you as a listener, for me the feeling of playing like this is so moving and gives the same feeling as screaming on a rollercoaster - it is thrilling. That is where we are at in the piece I think, a thrilling moment of realisation.

The suite finishes with a joyful New Orleans inspired piece called being. A wonderful finish to a beautiful suite of music.

Between Worlds is an emotion filled journey that I couldn’t recommend more highly. This is one of the first albums I am sharing here which is not on the streaming services. You can purchase this either digitally or physically on Bandcamp. It is a part of a series from Cross Street Records, in which you can get a whole bunch of fantastic music for a really good price. If you are interested in taking the plunge, I would recommend absolutely everything in the package (again more nepotism, but whatever!)

Thanks Elliot for having me, and writing such a wonderful suite of music!