PHI PSONICS Vinyl & CDs

Review: Phi-Psonics, a contemplative jazz ensemble from Los Angeles, is helmed by bassist Seth Ford-Young and features the talents of Sylvain Carton on woodwinds, Mitchell Yoshida on electric piano, and Josh Collazo on drums. Their music, rich in soulful depth, weaves together influences from jazz, classical, and Ford-Young's personal journey through spirituality, yoga, and philosophy, creating a soundscape that is both unique and profoundly meditative. Hailing originally from the Washington D.C. area, Ford-Young relocated to California in the early '90s, where he developed a deep affection for the upright bass and the works of jazz legends like Charles Mingus, John and Alice Coltrane, and Duke Ellington, alongside classical composers such as Bach, Chopin, Part, and Satie. His musical journey has been one of continuous exploration, marked by collaborations with artists like Tom Waits and Beats Antique. The recently announced limited 12" 'Morning Sun/Arrival', drawn from sessions that produced Phi-Psonics' second album Octava, showcases the group's introspective and innovative approach to meditative jazz. These tracks offer a space for serene reflection, encapsulating a spiritual journey through warm melodies and intricate instrumental dialogues, embodying Ford-Young's vision of personal evolution and higher vibrational states.

Review: Gondwana label head Mathew Halsall has his own superb new album arriving any time now, but before that comes Octava, a second and equally sublime offering from LA's deep-jazz masters Phi-Psonics. Halsall calls their sound "beautiful, humble and honest" and so it proves here with these deeply meditative sounds led by bassist Seth Ford-Young and featuring Sylvain Carton on woodwinds, Mitchell Yoshida on electric piano, and Josh Collazo on drums. Inspirations are as diverse as yoga, philosophy, jazz and classical but all finished with their own uniquely spiritual take and a lasting feeling of hope and optimism.