Album Review: The Circling Sun –‘Orbits’: the spiritual jazz collective return refreshed and vital as ever.

The Breakdown

Such gleeful confidence to effortlessly stretch- out threads through ‘Orbits’ all the way to the last fading bars ...It’s gorgeous, healing music.

Soundway Records – 9.0

The ever-orbiting Aotearoa/New Zealand based cosmic jazz big band The Circling Sun are clearly on a roll. After building a live reputation on the NZ scene for well over a decade, their first album ‘Spirits’ appeared in 2023 and made some commotion beyond their home shores. Here was a massive new sound, a fermentation of Afro-American post-bop edge with burbling electronica and the natural soul of Māori/Pacifica songlines. At BSM we gushed “Listening to ‘Spirits’ brings fulfilment that’s inexplicable”. So how does their second album ‘Orbits’, out now via the ever-dependable Soundway Records, shape up?

The boundless opener Constellation reveals the same ambition and daring which propelled their debut but with hints of other diversions. Shimmying into action with some frisky afro-cuban percussion, chunky ostinato chops and shimmering chords, the tune stirs up Azymuth vibes transported to another astral plain. A spectral vocal chorus adds to the cosmic drift, cooing and oohing smoothly to match the luxuriant horns. As Joe Kaptein’s sweeping piano solo lets fly, the burbling synth undercurrent, which sets this band apart, oozes to the surface then bubbles gently as this stellar introduction to ‘Orbits’ fades.

That Latin jazz flavouring and the vocal dimension, courtesy of the Love Affinity Choir, are key to the progression on this sophomore album and both get pushed to the fore on the infectious, shoulder rolling samba of Mizu. Energised by co-founder Julien Dyne and percussionist Matt Hunter’s purring bateria there’s a relaxed joy to The Circling Sun collective delivery here. The song is allowed to breath out and expand without unnecessary drama, the Choir’s sultry tones bringing nonchalance and hope to this reflection on fading love. There’s also more Verocai MPB meets smoochy rhumba on the understated jazz ballad Seki. The song shows the collective’s admirable faith in timeless structures but what really distinguishes the tune is the frisky cross rhythms which constantly fizz.

In some ways ‘Orbits’ finds this iteration of The Circling Sun less focused on fiery intensity and more on finding a groove and rolling with it. Flying shows its percussive intent with a stomping samba band intro before skipping along, all weightless and care-free. J.Y.Lee’s chirpy flute dovetails with those Cory Champion/Brandon Haru’s warm synth thermals, Kaptein’s spidery Rhodes solo reaches for those Chorea-esque moments and there are breezy sighs from the Love Affinity singers. Such gleeful confidence to effortlessly stretch- out threads through ‘Orbits’ all the way to the last fading bars of the closing cut Evening. Built around Ben Turua’s minimal but funky bass line, the collective float in the trip-hop chill out zone, the Choir merging gospel and traditional Aotearoa melodics to add a deep reverence. It’s gorgeous, healing music.

With vocals come lyrics, which can sometimes be a stumbling block in the jazz context. The Circling Sun keep themes abstract and impressionistic but suggestive of peace, togetherness and nature’s way. The verses are mantra-like, short phrases which repeat or interchange, adding to the immersive pull of the soundscape. On the soulful, meditative Amina the lines “For the darkness we don’t mind/sharpens with my own mind” reverberate alongside some Grant Green soft chords from guitarist Daniel Ryland, bluesy piano runs and rippling Bukla/Prophet synth atmospherics. The lyrics justifiably have more bite on the gripping Teeth. Vamping on the question “Do the cities /cripple us /Hiding beneath the surface”, The Love Affinity voices swell urgently in a spiralling piece of Orleans funk cloaked in a keyboard weave. Aaron Neville’s Hercules and Pharoah Sanders house jazz ambience may be reference points but that’s only shorthand for the excellence that The Circling Sun so often reach on this album.

The Circling Sun are a band that thrive on being a collective. The core group from their debut remain central but, along with the Choir, other players bring new textures and ideas. Getting mighty crowded seems fundamental to The Circling Sun’s vitality and on ‘Orbits’ they’ve spun things around once more to arrive sounding fully replenished.