Gary Brunton Archives - Juste une Trace

GWAWR, THE DAWN IN WELSH, IS A CAPTIVATING JOURNEY, MEMORIES AND FEELINGS SET TO MUSIC

British double bassist and composer Gary Brunton returns to the forefront with his brand new album, “GWAWR.” This eagerly awaited new album offers a wonderful immersion into the world of jazz, driven by original compositions and moments of palpable emotion.

Accompanied by saxophonist François Jeanneau, drummer Andrea Michelutti, and pianist Paul Lay (Emil Spanyi on three tracks), Gary Brunton once again takes us on a musical journey rich in emotions. Through “GWAWR,” the double bassist tenderly revisits significant moments of his life, drawing inspiration from the beloved Wales.

The album opens with “Fort Steven No.5” a vibrant tribute to a departed friend, skillfully blending modal jazz and funk, reminiscent of John Coltrane’s spirit. With “Tim’s Tune” Brunton earnestly addresses the pain of losing a loved one, demonstrating his resilience in the face of adversity.

Throughout the tracks, “GWAWR” transports us to the streets of Gary Brunton’s childhood in Burnley, through compositions such as “Lansdowne,” evoking buried memories, or “Hawthorne” and “Ramsbottom CC” immersing the listener in the world of childhood games accompanied by the sound of cricket bats.

The album also offers moments of pure escapism, such as “Chant in the Night” an enchanting composition by Sidney Bechet, elevated by François Jeanneau’s masterful playing and Andrea Michelutti’s bewitching drums.

Gary Brunton reveals that “GWAWR” is colored by Wales, where he has lived. This album is also marked by nods, like “What a Dream” the B-side of “Chant in the Night.” François Jeanneau proposed this piece, highlighting Paul Lay’s stride piano playing.

Finally, “GWAWR” concludes triumphantly with “Song for BWB” a “latino”-inspired composition dedicated to Gary Brunton’s wife, Béatrice, perfectly embodying enduring love. Started just after their wedding, it took him 30 years to finish and reveal it.

“GWAWR” thus offers a captivating musical experience, driven by Gary Brunton and his accomplices’ undeniable talent. With this album, the quartet invites us to embark on their train for a journey into the heart of memories and emotions. The videos accompanying many tracks of the album are made with archival footage from the Brunton family, serving as a natural and authentic continuation of the album “TREN DYDD” (Juste Une Trace, 2023).

Gary Brunton – Double bass
François Jeanneau – Sax Soprano
Andrea Michelutti – Drums
Paul Lay – Piano

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Release date : 26 april – available now

Produced by Gary Brunton for Juste Une Trace
Studio Producers -Thomas Savy, Serge Merlaud & Bojan Z
Recorded and mixed by Vincent Mahey and Arthur Gouret at
Studio Sextan
Mastered by Raphaël Jonin

All compositions by Gary Brunton
Published by Amoc
Except “Chant in the Night” and “What a Dream” by Sidney Bechet (Exclusive Publications Inc.) an “Poem for n°15” by Steve Khun (Stelk Music Co.)

Photos by Camille Huguenot
Graphic design by Corinne Garino

GWAWR by Gary Brunton

Following on from the warmly received success of his last album, ‘TRÊN DYDD’, the British double bassist and composer Gary Brunton invites us to continue our musical journey, guided by the same talented musicians. In the form of a quartet, with French saxophonist François Jeanneau, Italian drummer Andrea Michelutti, young French prodigy Paul Lay on piano (and Hungarian Emil Spanyi on three tracks), Gary Brunton once again takes us to Wales, and evokes with tenderness pivotal moments of his life, drawing on personalities from his family and close friends. With “GWAWR”, Gary Brunton takes us back on board the jazz train.

The album opens with “Fort Steven n°5“, a tribute to a tragically lost friend, blending modal jazz and funk with the spirit of John Coltrane.

Following this powerful introduction, Gary Brunton evokes a difficult moment in his life. With ‘Tim’s Tune‘, he points to the pain of losing a son and resilience in the face of adversity.

Composed and proposed by pianist Steve Kuhn, “Poem for n°15” refers to a baseball player, while “Lansdowne” takes us back to Gary Brunton’s childhood address in Burnley, exploring memories buried in the street corners of his youth.

The album also contains moments of pure escapism, such as “Chant in the night”, a composition by Sidney Bechet, which transports us into his very special world and features the masterful soprano saxophone of François Jeanneau and the jungle drumming of Andrea Michelutti. For Gary Brunton, “GWAWR” was born out of the rich cultural and human experiences that he enjoyed during his time in Wales. “I lived in Swansea and have always loved the sound and rhythm of the Welsh language”.

Gary Brunton’s rendition of Bechet’s ”What a Dream” pays tribute to the golden age of jazz but is tinged with a touch of modernity and freshness.

“In the Paddock” invites us to relive the palpable excitement that reigns in a paddock before the start of a horse race. Inspired by family memories, “My dad and grandad were both passionate about horse racing, « the bookies » as they called them. Betting on the ‘Gee Gee’s’ (horses) was a daily routine but fortunately they only spent small amounts… and sometimes won “In 1957, saxophonist Benny Golson wrote the song Stablemates. This song was inspired by that Golson composition and uses the same chord progression.”

“Hawthorne” and “Ramsbottom CC” take the listener back to the composer’s childhood, evoking the long hours spent playing with his friend Steven Fort in the streets of Burnley, lulled by the sound of “ leather on willow” (red ball hititing the cricket bat).

The album also features three compositions from “ TRÊN DYDD”. “Jonquilles” (Daffodils) is a new duet with Paul Lay. “Brew Ten” is a piano/double bass/drums trio, also with Paul Lay, and “Energy Master Loc” has a livelier tempo and no theme at the start, but is enhanced by a double bass solo.

These alternative versions offer an opportunity to appreciate the compositions from a different angle, with arrangements and performances that add nuance and variation to the instrumental music.

“GWAWR” culminates in “Song for BWB”, a Latin-inspired composition dedicated to Gary Brunton’s wife Beatrice, closing the album on a note of love and gratitude.

Gary Brunton – Double bass
François Jeanneau – Sax Soprano
Andrea Michelutti – Drums
Paul Lay – Piano

More about musicians

Release date : 26 april – available now

Produced by Gary Brunton for Juste Une Trace
Studio Producers -Thomas Savy, Serge Merlaud & Bojan Z
Recorded and mixed by Vincent Mahey and Arthur Gouret at
Studio Sextan
Mastered by Raphaël Jonin

Photos by Camille Huguenot
Graphic design by Corinne Garino

THE VIDEO HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE

Fast forward to 2017, Gary Brunton catches Bojan Z after a concert with Michel Portal. Something clicks into place, like the missing piece of a jigsaw. As they compare their different paths, they realise, with some regret, that they’ve never tried to mount a project together. The idea grows and nags and won’t let them go.

Spring 2018, Gary Brunton, Bojan Z and Simon Goubert start working through Gary’s pieces. In April 2019, they recorded their first session together, at Studio Sextan – La Fonderie. Vincent Mahey engineers and Edouard Ferlet comes on board as session producer.

HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE is the first video realize for Night Bus, a stop motion video by Thibault Joyeux.