Lend Your Ear: Artist Highlight - Mammal Hands
Damn, these guys can play!
On any given evening there are a few routines I may follow. After the house is nice and tidy I will watch something with my wife, watch something on my own, or (most often) read while enjoying coffee, or occasionally beer. As you may have guessed, while I’m reading I’ll have some music playing. Primarily Jazz or Classical but always instrumental music so as not to be so easily distracted by lyrics. However, now and again even instrumental music can blow me away and pull my attention away from even the most compelling of books. That’s exactly what happened on a fall evening in 2018 when I discovered this incredible group known as Mammal Hands. Instead of finishing a book I listened to their album Shadow Work and was moved by it. The mellow intro of drums and piano leads into a saxophone hook that all comes together into a sound that you can just tell the band genuinely feels as they play. They wholeheartedly believe in and love what they are playing. They are putting their hearts into it and that is what makes it great. On the one hand, the song evokes feelings of introspection and curiosity while on the other hand conveying a sense of “damn, these guys can play!”
This is the song that distracted me that particular evening.
Image by [Alex Kozobolis] via [Facebook]
Mammal Hands is a Jazz(?) trio made up of Jordan Smart on saxophone, Nick Smart on piano, and Jesse Bennett on drums and percussion. The group formally came together in Norwich, England in 2012 and formulated its sound during long improv jam sessions. I say Jazz(?) above because even the vast and diverse genre of jazz feels like a limitation to the wonderful music this group creates.
Their sound is truly remarkable. The adventure they present to listeners throughout their albums is captivating. It’s exploratory like Coltrane on Giant Steps while also extremely beautiful in composition like Handel. Amid all the unrest and upheaval that was the year 2020, they released their fourth studio album Captured Spirits. For me, this album provided true beauty and a fresh perspective that was much needed at such a dismal moment. During that time I was driving many hours each week as part of my job. Mammal Hands kept those long drives interesting and even helped make them joyful.
My personal favorite from Captured Spirits.
Since that cozy night in 2018, this group has become a favorite of mine as they have become a staple in my music listening. Many times when I have been unsure about exactly what I want to hear, I’ve put on their music. Whether it’s an emotional response or a genuine appreciation for the musicality, Mammal Hands always leaves the listener with something when the song/album is finished.
On March 31st, 2023 the group will be releasing their fifth studio album Gift From The Trees. “Nightingale” and “The Spinner” are the two singles that have been released thus far and I love them both! They’ve got all the hallmarks of their captivating sound and yet offer something different we can look forward to when the whole album is released.
Thank you for taking the time to read a little about this amazing band. Lend your ear to them this week and leave some comments to let me know what you think!
Take Care and God Bless!
Thanks for the recommendation! Blew me away.