Strange Faith And Practice
~ Jeb Loy Nichols

Description

Following on from his in store at Rough Trade Jeb Loy Nichols releases his on Impossible Ark Records, via Unfold. Jeb  is an artist, writer and musician living a sustainable life in Wales. ‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is his new album. With a glowing review in The Independent on Sunday this is one album you shouldn’t miss.

Since moving to the UK from his native America and finding himself living in an East End squat with Neneh Cherry, Adrian Sherwood and Ari Up from the Slits, Jeb has variously been art director for Pressure Sound records, performed guest vocals for Groove Armada, designed prints and fabric for Paul Smith and compiled the celebrated review of blue eyed southern soul, ‘Country Got Soul’. Throughout this time he has also had a successful career as a musician, both with his band The Fellow Travellers and as a solo artist; his previous albums have received glowing reviews in publications from the Independent to Mojo.

Described by many as a modern day Renaissance Man, Jeb has led a creative life spanning countless records, exhibitions and more recently books. Artist, writer, musician; for Jeb it’s all part of the same journey. And quite a journey it’s been: from Middle America and its soundtrack of country music and southern soul; through ‘70s New York, the loft scene and a sound clash of free jazz and rap; via London, reggae and the creative resistance to Thatcher’s Britain; and finally to Wales, a place to build a home, print, write and record, at least for a while.

‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is a relaxed and candid album of songs. Set against the shifting seasons of his remote Welsh retreat, they reflect back on Jeb’s search for place, a personal voice and the different musical scenes he’s passed through.

The accompaniment on ‘Strange Faith And Practice’ is provided by a group of revered musicians hailing from London’s vibrant jazz scene, including Tim Giles and Mark Hanslip; the rich bass comes care of Riaan Vosloo, who also arranged these songs, and who co-founded the Impossible Ark label with close contemporary Benedic Lamdin (better known as the rising jazz producer/musician Nostalgia 77).

Benedic Lamdin: For those of you who, like I, had never heard Jeb before, I can say it’s a wonderful world to discover. For those of you who already know and love Jeb’s songs, hear them here with fresh ears, pinned as they are to a chiaroscuro of shifting jazz drums, of double bass and of strings.