LIGHTHOUSE by Tim Garland on reeds, Gwilym Simcock on piano and Asaf Sirkis drums / percussion is the 1st recording of the 3 musicians together for German label ACT where the 9 compositions are all written by Garland and Simcock. All the three musicians got prizes and are considered among the finest British/Israeli jazz players/composers, however, the music (“contaminated” by players’ previous experience: folk, classical, pop, jazz, etc.) is never overlaid by an exaggerated virtuously way of playing but rather fresh and intriguing, never academic and cold but rather emotional and full of light … the emphatic interaction of the players gives to the performance a special energy and excitement.
Israeli ex-pat Asaf Sirkis has been gradually insinuating himself into the UK scene since moving to London in 1999. His most visible work to date has been with the controversial saxophonist Gilad Atzmon's Oriental House Ensemble where, in addition to playing drums, he's been able to take advantage of his background in ethnic percussion instruments. His broad orchestral approach to kit and hand percussion may, however, be best heard on woodwind multi-instrumentalist Tim Garland's sweeping and ambitious If the Sea Replied (Sirocco, 2005).
Jazz can swing (hard bop, Dixieland, classic jazz), or it can rock (fusion). Both are valid options. And in some cases, jazz floats, which is exactly what happens on Asaf Sirkis' Song Within. This excellent fusion/post-bop disc doesn't swing like Benny Goodman's big band or rock like Scott Henderson & Tribal Tech; instead, it floats along in a contemplative, probing way, and that works pleasingly well for Israeli-born, London-based drummer Asaf Sirkis (who forms a cohesive trio with Mike Outram on electric and acoustic guitar and Steve Lodder on acoustic church organ and electric keyboards).