Emily Violet
Versatile, dynamic, and bursting with colour, Polyhymnia is modern jazz at its most breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
Favorite track: Lahan al-Mansour.
kerryridgley
What I find astonishing, and so enjoyable, is how Yazz's composing and playing reminds me of some of my favorite composers/musicians - Molvaer, Mingus, Miles, Ellis, Hassell - throughout the album, sometimes, no less, in one composition. I just marvel at her range and the fabulous diversity of every track. All the musicians are top-notch, the artwork is fantastic, the liner notes exemplary, and the overall production as good as it gets.
Favorite track: Deeds Not Words.
rikm
In recent years I've become increasingly interested and appreciative of the Jazz genre, and over that time I've come to recognize Yazz Ahmed as being exceptionally skilled and talented, producing really strong work that I greatly appreciate and enjoy.
Her release "Polyhymnia" is a particular favorite, offering a collection of songs that are very engaging, and thoroughly entertaining. Definitely an excellent place to start in an exploration of work by this very talented artist...
Winner of the 2020 Jazz FM Album of the Year Award.
Special edition repress with insert of cover art.
~ Six panel gatefold Jacket
~ 12 page full colour booklet showcasing the original art of Sophie Bass
~ Double LP 150g Black Vinyl
“To celebrate the success of Polyhymnia, I am very happy to announce that we will be repressing the album. This special edition will include an insert of the cover art created by the highly talented, Sophie Bass. I am overwhelmed by the warm appreciation for my music and I’m so happy to have received both the 2020 Jazz FM ‘Album of the Year’ Award and the 2020 Jazz FM Award for ‘Jazz Act of the Year’. Thank you everyone for your support!”
- Yazz Ahmed February 2021
Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
ships out within 3 days
edition of 999
Purchasable with gift card
$35USDor more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Six-panel digipak with 12-page booklet, featuring the original artwork of Sophie Bass
Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 3 days
edition of 717
Purchasable with gift card
$13USDor more
Poster/Print + Digital Album
All 6 Premium Archival Prints from Polyhymnia
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Prints only - Frames Not Included*
Barbara Thompson
Haifaa-Al-Mansour
Malala-Yousefzai
Rosa Parks
Ruby Bridges
The Suffragettes
Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$40USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Poster/Print
12x12 Full Bleed Fuji Silver Halide Photographic Gloss
*Print only - Frame Not Included*
ships out within 10 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
Streaming + Download
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
$11USD or more
Polyhymnia + Polyhymnia Remixed Box Set - Bandcamp Friday Exclusive
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
For this weekend only I am making available vinyl copies of Polyhymnia and Polyhymnia Remixed as a bundle. Also included will be signed inserts of the cover art for both records. These are coming from my personal stock so will be shipped from the U.K.
Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Sold Out
Polyhymnia Double Vinyl LP 2021 Special Edition Repress with Signed & Numbered Insert Cover Art
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Winner of the 2020 Jazz FM Album of the Year Award.
Limited edition repress with insert of cover art signed and numbered by Yazz.
~ Six panel gatefold Jacket
~ 12 page full colour booklet showcasing the original art of Sophie Bass
~ Double LP 150g Black Vinyl
“To celebrate the success of Polyhymnia, I am very happy to announce that we will be repressing the album. This special edition will include an insert of the cover art created by the highly talented, Sophie Bass. I am overwhelmed by the warm appreciation for my music and I’m so happy to have received both the 2020 Jazz FM ‘Album of the Year’ Award and the 2020 Jazz FM Award for ‘Jazz Act of the Year’. Thank you everyone for your support!”
- Yazz Ahmed February 2021
Includes unlimited streaming of Polyhymnia
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
“This album is a celebration of female courage, determination and creativity. In 2015, the Tomorrow’s Warriors commissioned me to write an extended work, to be performed by members of their Nu Civilisation Orchestra, for a concert at the Women of the World Festival, in London’s Southbank Centre, on International Women’s Day.
Whilst gathering ideas for my composition, I came across the character of Polyhymnia, the ancient Greek Muse of music, poetry and dance: a Goddess for the arts. Perhaps inspired by her, I conceived the form of a suite of movements, each dedicated to women of outstanding qualities, role models, with whom I felt a strong connection. Whereas La Saboteuse, the embodiment of my inner-destroyer and the catalyst for the creation of my last album, could be viewed as my anti-muse, maybe Polyhymnia herself became my Muse, inspiring an intense period of creativity, which resulted in the six pieces on this album.
Since its conception, composed and arranged over the six weeks leading up to the first rehearsal for the premiere, the music has evolved and expanded. During the recording process I began incorporating new elements and drawing on a wider pool of artists, including members of my own Hafla band, alongside some of my favourite musicians working on the London scene.
By sharing my musical response to the stories and achievements of these exceptional women, and celebrating the creativity and talents of my co-contributors, I hope to inspire others, in the words of Malala, “to be brave, to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential” - Yazz Ahmed
--
Yazz Ahmed is a British-Bahraini trumpet player and composer. Through her music, she seeks to blur the lines between jazz, Arabic folk and electronic sound design, bringing together the sounds of her mixed heritage in what has been described as ‘psychedelic Arabic jazz, intoxicating and compelling’.
Already established at the centre of London’s dynamic new jazz scene, her second album, La Saboteuse, made a global impact. It clocked up multiple rave reviews, making many cross-genre ‘best of 2017’ lists around the world, including Jazz Album of the Year in the Wire Magazine. It has recently been recognised as one of the albums of the decade:
“for sheer, unconquered beauty, there are few albums of any genre that reach these heady heights. Ahmed, in diving deep within herself, comes back up for air with a mysterious, wondrous artefact humming in her hands.” the2010s.net
credits
released October 11, 2019
All tracks composed and arranged by Yazz Ahmed
One Girl Among Many features extracts from the 2013 UN speech by Malala Yousafzai
Produced by Noel Langley and Yazz Ahmed
Mixed by Tom Jenkins
Mastered by Robin Morrison
Biographies and cultural research by Emily Curran.
Artwork by Sophie Bass
Art Direction by Sacculi
Recorded by Nick Pugh at Session Corner, Luton, in August and November 2016
Samuel's guitars were recorded in Copenhagen by Katrine Amsler at Valby Station and by August Wanngren at Virkeligheden Studio, 2019
Ralph, George and Naadia were recorded by Marco Pasquariello at Snap Studios, London, January 2019
Additional recording, overdubbing and editing at Tatami Studios by Noel Langley during 2017 - 2019
Liner notes by Tina Edwards
Alcyona Mick – piano & Fender Rhodes
Alex Ridout – trumpet
Becca Toft – trumpet & voice
Camilla George - alto sax & voice
Carol Jarvis – trombone, bass trombone & voice
Charlie Pyne – double bass, bass guitar & voice
Chloë Abbott – trumpet
Corrina Silvester – percussion & voice
Gemma Moore – baritone sax
George Crowley – bass clarinet
Helena Kay – alto sax & voice
Johanna Burnheart – violin & voice
Josie Simmons – baritone sax & voice
Naadia Sheriff – piano
Noel Langley – trumpet, flugelhorn & voice
Nubya Garcia – tenor sax & voice
Ralph Wyld – vibraphone & glockenspiel
Rosie Turton – trombone & voice
Samuel Hällkvist – guitars
Sarah Tandy – piano, Fender Rhodes & voice
Sheila Maurice-Grey – voice
Shirley Tetteh – guitar & voice
Sophie Alloway – drums & voice
Tori Freestone – alto flute, soprano sax & tenor sax
Yazz Ahmed – trumpet, flugelhorn, Kaoss Pad & voice
The sound of movement enlightening the difference between loneliness and solitude…
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” -or something to that effect…
azucena’s ghost
A gorgeous blend of jazz, Arabic music, and flamenco, the latest from Mohannad Nasser celebrates the music that influenced him. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 27, 2021
