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LP
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FARO 203LP
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LP version. 180 gram vinyl. For his third album for Far Out Recordings, London-based multi-instrumentalist and one of Europe's finest saxophonists Sean Khan ventures to Rio de Janeiro to collaborate with iconic Brazilian polymath Hermeto Pascoal. Taking its title from the escaped slave settlement "Palmares" in the Northeast of Brazil during the 1600s, Palmares Fantasy is Khan's utopian jazz message for the world, and it features Azymuth drummer Ivan "Mamao" Conti, bassist Paulo Russo, guitarist Jim Mullen, and guest vocals from Brazilian chanteuse Sabrina Malheiros, and Cinematic Orchestra frontwoman Heidi Vogel. Like Hermeto Pascoal, Sean Khan is a self-taught musician. Never able to afford his original dream of studying at Berklee and having been turned away from Guildhall School of Music for being "too raw", he became disillusioned with what he saw as the exclusivity, elitism, and dangerous institutionalization of the jazz world. Yet Sean's love for music and the drive to create never faltered. Hermeto Pascoal, the man Miles Davis once dubbed "the most impressive musician in the world", is a similarly independent artist. by the 17th century settlement of Palmares in Brazil's Alagoas region, which was free from the Portuguese crown's murderous exploitation of South America for a century, Khan notes his fascination with the fact that while made up mostly of escaped African slaves, many deserter conquistadors also joined the settlement. Hearing the deep-grooving title track with this history in mind, the listener is transported to a futuristic musical eden, with Mamao's insatiable 10/8 rhythm back-boning Hermeto's wild improvised vocals, Rhodes, and whistles, while Sean's harmonically brilliant sax and flute add more layers of moody, characterful expression. "Moment of Collapse" is Sean's poetic study on the uncertainties of modern day western civilization, delicately presented by the gorgeous vocals of Heidi Vogel and drenched in lugubrious strings and Alice Coltrane-esque harp. The two covers on the album are of Hermeto's own "Montreux" (on which Hermeto plays solos on a teapot and a pint of water), and an uplifting soulful jazz-funk take on Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges MPB classic "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" featuring the vocals of pioneering nu-bossa voice Sabrina Malheiros. The recording sessions for the album were part of an intensive and hugely productive eight-week excursion to South America for Far Out Recordings boss Joe Davis in the summer of 2016.
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CD
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FARO 203CD
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For his third album for Far Out Recordings, London-based multi-instrumentalist and one of Europe's finest saxophonists Sean Khan ventures to Rio de Janeiro to collaborate with iconic Brazilian polymath Hermeto Pascoal. Taking its title from the escaped slave settlement "Palmares" in the Northeast of Brazil during the 1600s, Palmares Fantasy is Khan's utopian jazz message for the world, and it features Azymuth drummer Ivan "Mamao" Conti, bassist Paulo Russo, guitarist Jim Mullen, and guest vocals from Brazilian chanteuse Sabrina Malheiros, and Cinematic Orchestra frontwoman Heidi Vogel. Like Hermeto Pascoal, Sean Khan is a self-taught musician. Never able to afford his original dream of studying at Berklee and having been turned away from Guildhall School of Music for being "too raw", he became disillusioned with what he saw as the exclusivity, elitism, and dangerous institutionalization of the jazz world. Yet Sean's love for music and the drive to create never faltered. Hermeto Pascoal, the man Miles Davis once dubbed "the most impressive musician in the world", is a similarly independent artist. by the 17th century settlement of Palmares in Brazil's Alagoas region, which was free from the Portuguese crown's murderous exploitation of South America for a century, Khan notes his fascination with the fact that while made up mostly of escaped African slaves, many deserter conquistadors also joined the settlement. Hearing the deep-grooving title track with this history in mind, the listener is transported to a futuristic musical eden, with Mamao's insatiable 10/8 rhythm back-boning Hermeto's wild improvised vocals, Rhodes, and whistles, while Sean's harmonically brilliant sax and flute add more layers of moody, characterful expression. "Moment of Collapse" is Sean's poetic study on the uncertainties of modern day western civilization, delicately presented by the gorgeous vocals of Heidi Vogel and drenched in lugubrious strings and Alice Coltrane-esque harp. The two covers on the album are of Hermeto's own "Montreux" (on which Hermeto plays solos on a teapot and a pint of water), and an uplifting soulful jazz-funk take on Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges MPB classic "Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser" featuring the vocals of pioneering nu-bossa voice Sabrina Malheiros. The recording sessions for the album were part of an intensive and hugely productive eight-week excursion to South America for Far Out Recordings boss Joe Davis in the summer of 2016.
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CD
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FARO 187CD
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2015 release. Having emerged out of West London's broken beat movement in the '90s as bandleader of the cult soul/jazz outfit SK Radicals, Sean Khan's music holds a fascinating place in jazz's lineage. On Muriel, jazz greats Coltrane, Jaco, Herbie and Gil, are paid tribute to, as is goya music, the label Sean attributes to kick-starting his recording career, as well as being a key facilitator of the broken beat movement as a whole. These references reflect Sean's unique musical standpoint: his axis of influence pivots between classic, free and Latin jazz and a specific sense of rhythm and experimentation drawn from his immersion in the broken beat scene. This combination of musical approaches, coupled with Sean's belief in a concept of "instinct over intellect" (while retaining an appreciation of the philosophy behind the music) lays the foundation for the album's stirring innovation. The masterful compositions on Muriel are teeming with technical prowess and drenched in soul with the help of some world-renowned vocalists including father of British neo-soul Omar, Brazilian musical icon Sabrina Malheiros and Heidi Vogel of The Cinematic Orchestra. Sean Khan's exquisite alto sax throughout the album demonstrates both his technical prowess and keen understanding of jazz's history, whilst continuing to carve out its future. The swing-laden, percussive beats of Laurie Lowe and the underlying slung double bass lines of Mike Edmonds, lay the foundational groove for Sean's highly accomplished and expressive sax playing. Album opener "Things To Say" and "Sister Soul" each feature the vocal talents of Diana Martinez and Sabrina Malheiros respectively, which flawlessly compliment Khan's luscious arrangements, while "Dance For Little Emily" showcases Sean's ingenuously darting sax solos. On Muriel, Khan immerses himself in his jazz roots and, in doing so, has produced his finest album to date, one that uniquely reflects the high-quality Far Out Recordings jazz sound. Features remixes by: Henry Wu, 4 Hero and Ben Hauke.
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12"
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JD 034EP
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2015 release. London based jazz enthusiast Sean Khan, will release his second album Muriel in 2015 (FARO 187CD). This 12" features remixes from Henry Wu and Ben Hauke. Henry Wu imbues "Samba Para Florence" with a distinctly organic and off-kilter groove. Ben Hauke steeps Khan's "Things To Say" in his own murky, yet soul-drenched sound, one that falls somewhere between hip-hop and broken house. This remix is a sound drenched in syrupy, slightly sinister keys and a plodding, unpredictable thump not entirely dissimilar to Theo Parrish.
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CD
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FARO 158CD
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2011 release. Alto/soprano saxophonist Sean Khan is a multi-instrumentalist visionary mixing classic jazz and incredible improvisation skill. The band leader of cult British soul-jazz outfit SK Radicals, Sean Khan's debut solo record Slow Burner is soulful, eclectic, stand-out jazz. Paying homage to Khan's jazz heroes the album comes packed with pulsating grooves that mix contemporary urban sounds with classic jazz. Slow Burner features some of the best young jazz musicians on the London and European jazz scene Laurie Lowe (drums), Mike Edmonds (double bass), Susan Allotey (vocals) and Tim Lapthorne (piano). Slow Burner represents Sean Khan's journey back to one of his main loves: jazz improvisation. His playing pays homage to John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Charlie Parker and Wayne Shorter and there is also a vocal tribute to Stevie Wonder. "What is Jazz?" is a political statement delivered via highly recognized San Francisco artist Genevieve Grant (US and UK spoken word community) reciting an essay about what jazz is and what it is becoming. The group sound gives a nod to the contemporary (hip hop, drum n bass) as well as the hard swing of New York and the almost free sound of Europe. On Slow Burner, Khan immerses himself in jazz to produce his finest album to date. Fitting perfectly in to the high-quality Far Out Recordings jazz sound, "Hope Not Hate" stands out as the perfect showcase for Khan's darting, genius sax solos. "Golden Lady" - a brilliant Stevie Wonder re-work - and "Long Way To Go", which both feature the vocal talents of Susan Allotey fit perfectly with further instrumental jazz Khan originals. The album wraps up in style with Khan's take on Shorter and Henderson numbers; his warm and powerful sax making the songs his own. This fine heavyweight jazz effort fits perfectly with the label's legendary jazz-tipped artists such as Azymuth, Joyce and Marcos Valle.
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