Dee Byrne - Outlines

Dee Byrne is an artist swimming freely in a sea of creative possibilities. Her Entropi project established her reputation as a fearless explorer of the interface between composition and improvisation, structure and freedom, driven by a constant urge to create. To reconnect with the roots of that urge, she took a deep dive into her own process, using visual art as a medium to unlock fresh approaches to composition.

The results can be heard on her latest Whirlwind release and seen on the cover art: Outlines is a set of nine pieces for a specially assembled sextet of some of the UK's most adventurous and genre- busting musicians. Bassist Olie Brice, drummer Andrew Lisle and piano/keyboard player Rebecca Nash are all bandleaders, capable of navigating the complexities of Byrne's complex multi- modal compositions while allowing the spontaneity to flow freely: Tom Ward's collection of clarinets and Nick Malcolm's trumpet complete the frontline with Dee's alto sax, spinning tales and painting pictures.

There are a lot of strong, deep musical and personal relationships in this band - the sort that can't be fast-tracked. It's a real band! Dee describes the writing process: 'I decided to peel everything back to the basics of being creative. I started drawing and set rules for myself, retraining my mind to stop criticising - to follow impulse without being attached to outcome! Then I applied the same approach to writing music - they're genuine musical sketches!'

Collecting the musical fragments, she assembled them into compositions that could move easily from carefully structured written parts into free improvisation and back again.

Outlines is a bold and fully realised work that daringly reimagines the interface between control and freedom, writing and improvisation. The pieces develop naturally from written to free and back again, guided by a group of players in perfect harmony with the music and with each other: challenging and comforting the listener, and drawing them deep into Dee Byrne's complex and beautiful soundworld.