Misha Mullov Abbado launches debut album

New Ansonia is the debut album from bassist and composer Misha Mullov-Abbado. Son of the late, great Italian conductor Claudio Abbado and Russian violinist Viktoria Mullova, British-born Mullov-Abbado grew up in a powerfully musical environment, a unique upbringing that has inspired Misha to create his own musical identity and tell his own compelling story. This, his debut album, demonstrates gifts that are uniquely his own and is full of unusual colours, leaps of imagination and a strong sense of character. New Ansonia clearly defines the path Misha intends to follow both as a composer and performer of exceptional ability. As Kenny Wheeler Music Prize judge Evan Parker put it, this is ‘the beginning of a journey of an outstanding individual’.

To achieve his musical goals Misha has brought together a wealth of young talent from the vibrant and creative London jazz scene with a front line of alto saxophonist Matthew Herd and trombonist Tom Green and alongside him in the rhythm section YouTube sensation & Quincy Jones protégé Jacob Collier on keys and drummer Scott Chapman.

Described by the London Jazz Website as ‘a hugely promising talent’, Mullov-Abbado showcases his diverse and wide-ranging skills as a bandleader and composer on New Ansonia. Listen to the opening track and you’ll be introduced to the melodic, widescreen ‘Circle Song’ followed by the rhythmically bristling and upbeat, ‘Lock Stock & Shuffle’. The title track ‘New Ansonia’ is exuberant and joyful while ‘Heal Me on This Cloudy Day’ introduces a sombre note – Mullov-Abbado wrote this song for his father’s funeral, demonstrating the emotional maturity and strength of character that suffuses this fine debut.

With a strong sense of song, evolving with dramatic twists, shifting dynamics and moods, New Ansonia is an exceptional debut – colourful, bursting with character, grooves, melody and inventive soloing.

Available on CD and Download

MISHA MULLOV-ABBADO double bass
MATTHEW HERD alto saxophone
TOM GREEN trombone
JACOB COLLIER piano
SCOTT CHAPMAN drums

Additional musicians:
JAMES DAVISON trumpet and flugelhorn (tracks 3 and 4)
NICK GOODWIN electric guitar (tracks 4 and 5)
VIKTORIA MULLOVA violin (track 7)
MATTHEW BARLEY cello (track 7)

Tracklisting

1. Circle Song 7.07
2. Lock, Stock & Shuffle 7.22
3. Real Eyes Realise Real Lies 7.56
4. New Ansonia 7.52
5. Satan, Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas 8.18 6. Ode To King Michael 4.30
7. Heal Me On This Cloudy Day 5.06
8. September 8.47
9. Just Another Love Song 10.44