On Wax / Nat Birchall: Cosmic Language on Jazzman Records

UK saxophonist, composer and arranger Nat Birchall returns to Jazzman Records today with the release of his newest LP, Cosmic Language. Nat explores spiritual jazz and Indian ragas, introducing the harmonium to his band.

 

Nat’s had the harmonium in his collection for years, but this album marks the first time he’s utilised the Indian instrument in his recorded music. After a performance at a meditation centre, the Maharishi Golden Dome in West Lancashire, Nat decided to incorporate it into Cosmic Language.

Ragas use music as a spiritual release. The opener on the album, Man From Varanasi, acts as an ode to Bismillah Khan, one of Nat’s raga idols who hailed from the Indian city.

The whole act of making music is a spiritual experience. It’s during performance and when playing music that I look for a kind of truth. It’s with music where I find myself feel closest to attaining that ‘enlightened’ kind of feeling. On rare occasions I’ve actually felt as though I was listening to the music being played rather than being involved in making it, almost like an out-of-body experience.

 

– Nat Birchall

 

Cosmic Language is available to order now on digital, CD and vinyl from Bandcamp.