Jan Ponsford & Frances Knight & Hugh Hopper & Vince Clarke - The Swimmer

01.Scat Up A Tree (7:27)
02.Nine Lives (6:17)
03.True Story (3:42)
04.Triple fff (6:08)
05.Uszibarasc (8:56)
06.Vinnie Goes To Trinni (2:41)
07.Tongue In Groove (4:30)
08.Geisterklavier (3:18)
09.Boatwoman (2:00)
10.In A Temperamental Mood (5:33)
11.Crimson Lake (6:18)
12.Underwater Scrabble (3:12)
13.Tic Tac Original (3:11)

"The Swimmer" is an album that stands out as a beautiful encounter of improvisational jazz, featuring the talents of musicians. Recorded in a single day, the album is a product of spontaneous creation, offering a collection of tracks that are both free-flowing and melodically rich. Jan Ponsford's vocals are particularly noteworthy, displaying a remarkable range from soft, echoing ballads to lively scat singing. Her ability to adapt her vocal style to the improvisational changes makes each track a unique listening experience. The synergy between Ponsford and the instrumental trio of Knight, Hopper, and Clarke results in a series of moods that span jazz grooves, Brazilian feels, and other indescribable elements, all while remaining accessible and tonally grounded. The album's tracks, such as "Scat up a Tree" and "Vinnie Goes to Trinni," showcase the ensemble's ability to create jazz-infused, free-form music that's easy to listen to and enjoy. Despite some abrupt fade-outs that leave listeners curious for more, "The Swimmer" is praised for its light and engaging approach to improvised music, making it a great record for those new to the genre as well as seasoned jazz aficionados.