David Seymour’s What a Life, the anchor track from his Shelter EP, figuratively and titularly delivers sanctuary to jazz fans. This smooth resistance against the monocultural mould allows the instrumentals to speak a universal language through their warm timbres and lushly arranged intricate time signatures. Meanwhile, the dreamy reverie within the female vocals seduces listeners further into the all-encompassing soundscape, letting the textural bliss sprawl around them like a tender aural caress.
The North London songwriter and composer draws from a well-travelled life that has seen him immersed in the musical traditions of North America, Mexico, and Europe before settling in London to collaborate with African and South American musicians. The broad palette of influences—including Afro-Latin rhythms, Celtic folk, classical compositions, and 70s icons like Coltrane and Monk—finds its voice in Seymour’s work, but it’s jazz that serves as his creative compass.
While What a Life offers a singularly rich experience, the Shelter EP as a whole invites listeners to explore Seymour’s versatility and skill as he channels his deft, succinct, and sonorous touch into various forms of jazz. For the full catharsis fix, stream the 5-track EP in its entirety and allow the lush arrangements and intricately embellished instrumentation to envelop you. Whether through the warmth of its timbres or the universal resonance of its message, Shelter succeeds in delivering on its promise of musical sanctuary.
Stream Shelter in full via Spotify.
Review by Amelia Vandergast