They Shall Inherit (LP)

Vinyl Includes CD + 7" Single! Menagerie is the new spiritual jazz project from the prolific Australian producer/songwriter Lance Ferguson, best known for his eclectic and highly acclaimed work under the Lanu and The Bamboos monikers. ‘They Shall Inherit’ is out 10th December on Tru Thoughts; featuring a guest appearance from the legendary US jazz/funk vibraphonist Roy Ayers, the album has had early support from the authority on all things leftfield, Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music). The first public taste of this new music was “Leroy And The Lion”, featuring Roy Ayers, which has had 40,000+ streams since being premiered by Wax Poetics; the lead single – a free download of “The Chosen” – is now available now on the Tru Thoughts website. For full immersion into the wonderful world of Menagerie, let’s hand over to the album’s liner notes, care of Ennio Styles (3RRR FM)… The time is now for Lance Ferguson to use his experience and judgement to pass the information and extend the knowledge. And this time, we shall inherit. But not just us, for here comes the family. Lance’s reflections on fatherhood have shaped this album and his children’s names figure in the track titles. Songs from their father. So who is this menagerie that Lance has assembled here, these angels and demons at play? Well first, this was not conceived of as a ‘Bamboos side-project’. Musically and sonically, philosophically, and in personnel, this is the articulation of other sounds. Jazz, yes, but it is also not ‘The Lance Ferguson Octet’ or some other vehicle for soloists to show off their individual chops. Where these pathways meet, the whole is indeed more than the sum of the parts. Lance sets the example of selflessness, soloing just once and sitting out completely on all but two tunes. Other than Fallon Williams’ performance on The Quietening, most of the vocals are part of the ensemble rather than out front. However special mention must be made of Phillip Noy and Mark Fitzgibbon, two of the musicians featured heavily on ‘They Shall Inherit’. Phil is one of Melbourne’s top saxophone technicians and for this album reconfigured his horns to match Coltrane’s set­tings. Just don’t expect to be able to play anything like Phil if he repairs your sax. Mark Fitzgibbon’s bac­kground includes time soaking up London’s jazz dance scene in the late 80s, playing keys at the legendary Dingwalls sessions hosted by Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge. This View Street jazz experience was recorded with the assistance of Lance’s long-time engineer, John Castle. In recording and mixing the album, they have inherited the sound of some of the classic music of Harry Whitaker, Gary Bartz, McCoy Tyner, Weldon Irvine and the labels Tribe, Strata East and Black Jazz. Not forgetting special guest Roy Ayers, who should be credited for his vibes and vibrations. But this project is not simply a 1975 time capsule, with songs like The Chosen sounding like a live jazz take on some of the club music experiments of the 21st century producers inspired by Ayers, Mizell and the like. Back to the future. Review: Australian producer, guitarist, and songwriter Lance Ferguson (aka Lanu) is best known for his solo work and as a member of the Bamboos. But with Menagerie, he's fronting a full-on spiritual jazz ensemble. With seven other instrumentalists and a pair of vocalists (in addition to himself), he's moved into deep terrain – and may have issued the recording of his life in the process. The opening title track begins with a spoken chant, and segues into Phillip Noy's post-Coltrane tenor saxophone solo (he's one of the true stars on this date, look for more from him) with Mark FitzGibbon's piano playing a series of expressionist modal chords, and Carlo Barbaro's flute floating in the backdrop. About five minutes in, Michael Meagher's upright bass and the piano state a three-chord vamp, and Eamon McNellis' trumpet commences with a gorgeous, melodic solo that pierces the mix like a human voice. When the rest of the ensemble enters, a counter melody and wordless backing vocals add depth and dimension. Twelve uplifting minutes elapse in a snap. “The Chosen,” with hand percussion by Phil Binotto and FitzGibbon's Rhodes backing a three-part sung lyric, is an entirely different vibe; it's simultaneously spacy, soulful, and gritty. “Leroy the Lion” features a special guest appearance by Roy Ayers on vibes (for anyone who thought the man was past his prime, think again). Ayers' mallets and Ferguson's guitar lead the spacious, rootsy groove here. While all of the sounds on this date have been heard before, They Shall Inherit doesn't sound retro at all. Closer “There Will Come Soft Rains” is an expansive ensemble groove based on some open modes, and features an unlikely yet wonderful bass solo from Meagher to close it out. In sum, Ferguson's manner of composing and arranging seamlessly melds spiritual jazz to nu-soul to club jazz to funk, and creates an exotic, uplifting listening experience that is timeless in its design and execution. All Music Guide – Thom Jurek