John Butcher – Winter Gardens (LP)

A solo album by saxophone virtuoso John Butcher featuring some of his most
exceptional extended techniques which he has been developing during his career as a
soloist as well as a member of some significant collaborative projects. Playing tenor &
soprano saxophones, Butcher has developed a very unique style in free improvised music
and composition, mostly by engaging with a sense of place through in situ performances
and space resonance.
The album’s two longer tracks were recorded in December 2011 at St.Annes & St.Agnes
Church in London by Simon Reynell (Another Timbre label) and document his acoustic
solo while interacting with the environment’s natural feedback; evolving tonal patterns
and harmonics of circular breathing, repetitive musical riffs and silent moments create an
atmosphere with a special character.
Two shorter tracks in “Winter Gardens” document Butcher’s skills incorporating
microphone feedbacks. Recorded in Milwaukee, October 2011, the result is resembling
electronically synthesized sounds while resonances of different parts of the saxophone
blend with oscillating re-amplified sounds.