Asaf Sirkis Trio: New Album Shepherd’s Stories

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In July 2013 Asaf Sirkis will be releasing his latest Trio album, 'Shepherd's Stories' with his long standing collaborators, Greek guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and Israeli bassist Yaron Stavi having previously worked with them on 'Letting Go' (2010) and 'The Monk' (2008). Shepherd's Stories is created as a result of Asaf's fascination with the way melodies affect our soul and how music can connect us with our true selves. He calls these effects the Shepherd Story effect, when a melody reminds you of something you've heard before,a sense of 'I know this tune from somewhere' but cannot be pinpointed from where. It's a similar feeling to déjà vu' or when you're listening to some music and it reminds you of the way you felt in other times in your life. The difference here is that 'Shepherd's Stories' connects you with something larger then yourself, a forgotten truth or collective consciousness. These moments are a moment of connection to our soul; they are important pointers or reminders of where we have come from.

Asaf says of creating and recording this album: "I think that there is much greater sense of deliberateness in this album when you compare to the previous albums we've made with the trio but at the same time a more effortless, natural and improvisatory approach throughout".

"There was something very 'right' for me about making this album and the process of making it was very easy and natural. This is partly due to the fact that the Trio has been together since 2007 and has developed a sound of its own through the sheer irreplaceable mileage of playing together in many situations.

"The other exciting thing for me about making this album is that it represents a coming together of a lot of things I've learnt and practised as a musician and as a human being. Over the last few years I've been studying the art of South Indian vocal percussion system called Konnakol. This has had a revolutionary effect on my playing and on my understanding of rhythm. I have used a few Indian elements in this album.

On this album Asaf invited a number of guests including keyboardist John Turville with whom he has worked with since 2005 and considers one of the most original keyboardists in London, the flute wizard Gareth Lockrane and beautiful vocalist Sylwia Bialas.

Biography

One of the greatest drummers and percussionists of our time, Israeli born Asaf Sirkis grew up in the Yemenite neighbourhood of Rehovot, near Tel Aviv. Its multicultural community shaped Asaf's understanding of music and rhythm. He took up drum lessons aged 12 and developed a love for the electric bass, with musical influences including The Beatles, Police, Yes, Genesis, and Mahavishnu Orchestra to name a few.

After his national service, Asaf began his career as a musician, playing with different young bands spanning Klezmer to Jazz Rock and much in between. He also worked with Israel's Jazz and World luminaries, such as Harold Rubin, Albert Beger, and Yair Dalal, supported by releases on pioneering local label Jazzis. In 1995 Asaf formed his first trio and found an outlet for his writing with his debut album 'One Step Closer'. His experimental nature drew in church organ, electric guitar and drums with his next trio, 'The Inner Noise'.

He settled in London in April 1999, quickly establishing himself in the vibrant UK Jazz and world music scene. Asaf recorded the album 'Nuzha' with Palestinian oud player and composer Adel Salameh, which featured Asaf's Middle Eastern frame drum playing. Asaf also re-formed his Inner Noise band with UK musicians Steve Lodder and Mike Outram.

Meeting Gilad Atzmon in 2000 led to them forming the seminal Orient House Ensemble, recording seven albums together. 'Exile' won 'Best Album of the Year' at the BBC 2003 Jazz Awards and they were nominated in the 'Best Band' category the following year.

Since 2006, the prodigiously talented drummer/composer has also enjoyed a unique collaboration with acclaimed saxophonist/composer Tim Garland and pianist Gwilym Simcock. They have released four albums to date and toured the world with their Lighthouse Project. Asaf remains one of the hardest working musicians, boasting an incredible discography and a who's who of collaborations. These, among others, also include Larry Coryell and Jeff Berlin.

Asaf often makes intensive use of the South Indian (Carnatic) art of konnakol in his drumming. In addition to conventional drum rigs, Asaf also plays special rigs of frame drums, udu (a clay drum), hang drum (aka steeldrum) and others. His unique versatility, virtuosity and sensitivity and his immense tonal palette always keep Asaf in the greatest demand.

Asaf Sirkis Trio

In 2007 the Asaf Sirkis Trio was born, featuring Greek guitarist Tassos Spiliotopoulos and Israeli bassist Yaron Stavi.

Asaf explains the concept of the trio in an interview for Jazz UK magazine: 'I wanted to create a sound where electric guitar and electric bass sound like a single instrument. All the music I wrote for this band came from this approach'.

'I've always been drawn to the trio format. Music for me is about teamwork and communication and there's something about trios that really delivers this and everybody in the band can really express themselves'

The 2010 album 'Letting Go' was created with the idea of simple and effective melodies, a clearer idea of the band's sound, and with the individual characteristics of the band members in mind. The album received rave reviews and the band toured UK and Europe extensively, developing their individual voice and sound. Asaf explains in an interview for Jazz Podium (German Jazz Magazine): 'Letting Go' represents for me the process of spiritually becoming aware of who I really am and of letting go of beliefs and thought patterns I've picked up along the way that do not belong to me. I called it that way because I felt the beginning of this process together with having the first inspiration to make this album'.

'The Monk', released in 2008 was created with the vision of a new sound. The band begun rehearsing and playing local gigs around 2007 and after a year of intense work the project was finally recorded. The name 'The Monk' refers to the work of a musician; Asaf explains in an interview to Jazzwise: 'I find a lot of similarity between the way a monk lives and the Jazz musician. Not that I'm a monk! But for me monk symbolizes great devotion to something that's not material'.

Selected Press Quotes

"Since arriving in London from Israel at the end of the end of the '90s, Asaf Sirkis has earned a reputation as one of the world's premier drummers"
Ian Patterson, All About Jazz
"Israeli-born drummer and London resident Asaf Sirkis unleashes with thunderous abandon on this hard-hitting fusion offering that harkens back to a time before the genre became codified, diluted and reduced to a critical joke".
Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times (USA)
'The more subtle virtuosity of a Bill Stewart or a Jack DeJohnette is rooted in the subsoil of the music from which it came: it's something other than athletics. In that context, some really interesting young players to watch are Mark Guiliana from Avishai Cohen's group in the USA, and Martin France and Asaf Sirkis in the UK.'
Bill Bruford in Bill Bruford: The Autobiography, 2009, Jawbone Press
"…Sirkis simply the most sensitive of percussionists" Chris Parker, January 2009
"Asaf Sirkis sounding creatively freer and more dramatically inventive than ever on drums". John Fordham, The Guardian, June 2009
"Sirkis is not only an inventive drummer but also a composer of rigour, wit and surprising delicacy" Chris Ingham, Mojo Magazine, October 2008
''Letting Go goes back to instrumental jazz-rock before it ironed out the creases and became an f-word’. Sirkis’ magnificent presence is always tempered by an acute sensitivity to group principles’'. Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise, Oct 2010
''Sirkis continues to grow as a composer and leader, balancing subtly alluring introspection with dramatic release. This record will add to his reputation as an original and captivating voice''. Ian Patterson, All abut Jazz, Oct 2010
''Sirkis is just a joy throughout, whether surging at speed or adding delicate cymbal accents amid the brush strokes. Like all the best drummers and especially those who lead bands, he manages to enhance the playing of his band members while always determining the overall sound and character of the music through his distinctive rhythmic feel and strong musical character''. Peter Bacon, Jazz Breakfast, Sept 2010
''Sirkis himself drums with a good mix of power, intelligence and sensitivity and the album represents his strongest set of compositions to date''. Ian Mann, Jazz Mann, 2010
“Asaf Sirkis, the world class drum phenomenon reminiscent of Jack DeJohnette and Tony Williams at the height of their powers that's taken the British scene by storm over the last few years”... Rainlore’s World of Music

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