World According to James - CD Launch - Lingua Franca

WATJ have been together for over a decade and features four of Australia’s finest improvising musicians with trombonist James Greening, alto saxophonist Andrew Robson, bassist Steve Elphick and drummer Toby Hall.

This new album, titled Lingua Franca, (a language adopted between speakers whose native languages are different), is a reference to the four musicians’ individual sounds and musical conceptions yet they are able to find such rich common ground in this ensemble. Lingua Franca is also unique in that it features the band performing an entire program of material composed by the group’s saxophonist Andrew Robson.

There is a rich tradition of partnerships and collaborations in music, two minds contributing ideas so that the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts. The Musical relationship of James Greening and Andrew Robson is most certainly one of these. It has been producing wonderful results ever since they first played together in the bands of Jackie Orszaczky, and Jackie seems to have instilled in both James and Andrew his inimitable approach to musical structure and freedom.

This is the third release from The World According to James, with the first two albums No Job too Small and Way Back receiving rave reviews both in Australia and overseas.

In fact so much so the group performed at the legendary Berlin Jazz Festival on the strength of their work. Along with the Sandy Evans Trio and the Andrew Robson Trio, they are the only Australian groups to do so.

Like a travelogue, Lingua Franca, is a new musical journey by four wonderful musicians. Sometimes, the result is a robust and heartfelt discussion while at others, like four old friends reminiscing. Travel with the World according to James on this brand new release Lingua Franca.