A true master of tone and timbral balance, Carmichael provides us with yet another acoustic jazz single that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity in a space that we have come to know as “Scottish Jazz”. Kite is its name, and as the name suggests, this piece nurtures nostalgia, conjuring feelings of anticipation, struggle and triumph that are associated with a childlike experience of flying a kite on a gusty afternoon. The more poetic side of me would say that this is metaphor for life, with its highs and lows, anticipations and realisations, but this is meant to be a short review, and my lack of poetic facility would render the comparison too weak to have any meaningful impact. If anything were to persuade you on this, however, it would be the dynamic arc of the recording. Within its lifespan of 5 minutes and 13 seconds, Kite gradually takes you from humble beginnings up to an explosive peak and down to a restful conclusion. Along the way, you are guided by warm, gliding saxophone lines from Carmichael himself, alongside guitar, violin, piano and drums, generating an orchestrational character that is nearly impossible not to recognise.
Waxing Lyrical 