Ubuntu Music is proud to present View From Above, the brand new album by drummer, percussionist and composer Tristan Banks. As an ‘in demand’ player, Banks has lent elite skill to a wide range of highly successful, platinum selling artists, working with many luminaries covering a diverse field of musical genres including Roy Ayers, Steve Winwood, Dave Valentin, David Gilmour, Peter King,
Lewis Taylor, Guy Barker, Marcos Valle, Liane Carroll, Terry Callier, Jim Mullen, Carleen Anderson, Joe Lee Wilson and Mayra Andrade to name a few. Tristan Banks’ world class talent on his instrument of choice is markedly evident on this new debut jazz album View From Above – having been a valuable ‘secret weapon’ and vital collaborator for so many people during his career spanning
more than 30 years, it is now Banks’ long overdue turn in the limelight.
View From Above encapsulates Tristan Banks’ experience as a versatile artist, covering a range of styles that he has been deeply involved with during his career. Though predominantly jazz-led, elements of Latin and fusion influences can be detected, though this never betrays the core purpose, of which Tristan explains: “The idea was to push the acoustic jazz quartet format to the limit, being able
to re-image the possibilities that the classic saxophone, piano, bass, drums line-up can manifest, and by being conscious of the sonic traditions that are typically replayed to confirm the listeners tastes while avoiding the genres timbral clichés.” This ambition has been manifested with distinction by Banks and his band of stunningly accomplished instrumentalists, ultimately resulting in an engaging and vivacious body of work that sets the standard for new jazz releases in 2023.
Tristan Banks brings together his long-standing musical friends (Paul Booth on saxes, John Crawford on piano and Davide Mantovani on bass) to realise his vision. From very first listen, the synergy between players is undoubtedly apparent – each musician possesses an innate understanding of each other, using their intuition to allow each other to achieve full potential as individuals, while seamlessly gelling as a unit. This unteachable creative energy between players is a joy to experience.
View From Above was recorded live, with no click track or isolation recording techniques, demonstrating that Banks and his band are ensemble of the highest calibre, having captured this session in the moment as slice of time, the result of which is most exciting.
As manager and curator of the renowned Verdict Jazz Club in Brighton, Tristan Banks is perfectly placed to champion pioneering line ups featuring jazz starts of the future, while cultivating a vibrant jazz scene and musician community in East Sussex and the south of England. This challenging yet fulfilling role also has influence on his work as an artist and has helped yield such excellent results
on View From Above – a landmark album from a musician who will soon achieve the widespread recognition that he deserves.