Perfect Stranger, a 10-piece band originally conceived in 1974 by visionary composer and bassist Chris Sansom, is making its long-awaited debut with the release of their album Unfinished Business, which is out on 18 October via SPARK! Records.
Sansom first imagined Perfect Stranger while studying for his B.Mus. in the early 1970s. Influenced by the likes of Yes, Frank Zappa and various jazz-rock-funk artists, Sansom sought to create music that defied conventional jazz and pop formulas. He assembled a group of gifted young musicians from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and other connections, including the legendary Pete Jacobsen on electric piano, to bring his ambitious compositions to life. Despite the talent involved, the original band never had the opportunity to showcase their work. Now, 50 years later, Sansom has reassembled Perfect Stranger with a new lineup of stellar musicians including Adam Bishop (alto and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, flute), Mick Foster (tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, flute), Shanti Jayasinha (trumpet & flugelhorn), Tom Green (trombone), Alcyona Mick (keyboards), Rob Millett (percussion), Eddy White (guitars), Paul Michael (bass guitar) and Jonas Golland (drums).
Unfinished Business features a selection of complex and challenging original compositions, rooted in jazz and classical composition techniques. The signature piece of the album, ‘Life & Times (of a Perfect Stranger)’, is a four-movement work loosely based on the structure of a classical symphony, with durations governed by the Golden Ratio. Another highlight, ‘Ludwig’s Van’, is a bold reimagining of Beethoven’s Große Fuge, Op. 133, blending shuffle, funk, reggae and bebop.
“This project has been a long time coming,” says Sansom. “The music on this album is exactly half a century old at the time of release, and it’s incredibly rewarding to finally bring it to life with such a talented group of musicians.”
The band plays the following UK dates Progress Theatre, Reading (25 October), Karamel N22, London (album launch, 1 November), Royal Hotel, Southend (6 November) and Puppet Theatre, Norwich (30 November).
See the ‘live in the studio’ video for ‘Life & Times, Part 3: Midlife Crisis’ below and for more info visit sparklabel.bandcamp.com/album/unfinished-business
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