RESOLUTE are a newly established band born from the Dissolute Society family. Their music comprises a fiery mix of grooves, ambient soundscapes, poetry, noise and contemporary jazz, with a commitment to freely improvised music and its relationship to the spoken word: exploring themes of mental health, protest, love, race and justice.
Resolute’s debut album was released on Babel Label in May 2019.
buy digital or limited edition vinyl HERE
“well crafted, considered improvisation…. the raw honesty of the words are coupled with shifts in musical style that reinforce the emotions that are being laid bare, but the listener becomes engaged in a way that is ultimately uplifting” – Chris Baber, Jazz Views
“The music runs the gamut from free jazz freakiness to warbling bloopy electronica. It’s forceful stuff….words to set fear into any heart, but hold fast, there’s much to wrap the ears around” – Thomas H Green, theartsdesk
The edgy and extraordinary Nigerian performance-poet Gboyega Odubanjo is a key presence…as are Clarkson’s own often poignant spoken reflections. Infusing it all is the collective energy of the band – expressed in swirlingly jazzy Fender Rhodes breaks or ghostly synth sounds, echo-laden trombone statements, free-percussion chatters or soft ambient hums, all morphed and modified by the leader’s dexterity with effects-pedals, and by Liran Donin’s canny post-production. And if there are fewer explicit references to jazz, which is more seamlessly blended into Clarkson’s wider musical palette here, his college-founded core threesome with keyboardist Phil Merriman and drummer Simon Roth still play a creatively jazz-nuanced role.” – John Fordham, London Jazz News
Gboyega Odubanjo – words/vocals
Raph Clarkson – trombone/electronics/words/vocals
Phil Merriman – keys/synths
Simon Roth – drums