Search - Andy Sheppard :: Nocturnal Tourist

Sheppard's Travels

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 03/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The clue is in the album title really, and perhaps also in the travel-related imagery that adorns the CD cover. Saxophonist Andy Sheppard tries his hand at world music on this groovy 2001 album and takes inspiration from places like Latin America, the Middle East, Far East and Africa. It's practically a one-man production: Sheppard plays tenor & soprano saxophones, WX11 wind synths, electric guitar, midi guitar and keyborards. Live drums and percussion are by Frenchman Stephane San Juan and John Parricelli plays nylon string guitar (on "Delfine").



Sheppard also utilises some very unusual and intriguing samples on this album, including one of drummer Bobby Thomas from the Michel Benita album "Lower The Walls" (on "Bobby In Africa") and one from the talking book version of "The Story of O" by Pauline Réage (on "I Wish I Knew"). Vocal support is provided by the children of Southville Primary School in Bristol, a woman only credited as Delfine (listen out for the sound of her stilettos on the beautiful ballad "Never Far") and from some people only credited by their first names: Eugenia, Dina, Neuda, Phoebe, Charlie and Lilas (on "Untitled Movies"). I'm thinking they might be family members.



The album is engineered, mixed and produced by Sheppard in the most part, and he wrote all the songs except for "I Wish I Knew", which is by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon. It's an interesting form of jazz, not quite smooth, definitely non-conformist but always interesting to listen to. I simply adore Sheppard's sound no matter how or where he uses it and I remain a huge fan."