Birdsong Alice Leggett

• 1 Sunflower Song 04:48
• 2 Birdsong Part 1 07:29
• 3 Birdsong Part 2 02:54
• 4 A Million Dreams I 02:13
• 5 Fire at Full Moon 07:20
• 6 Solace 08:40
• 7 A Million Dreams II 01:43
• 8 Repose 08:46
• 9 A Million Dreams III 02:43
• 10 Zoë 07:08
• 11 Remember the Blue Sky 08:17
• 12 Song for Who You Could've Been 02:15
• Total Runtime 01:04:16

Info for Birdsong

“Birdsong”, Leggett’s debut album, is due to be released on the Dutch label ZenneZ Records in early May 2025 but is already available for purchase at gigs. The record features twelve original compositions by Leggett and features a sextet that includes the regular quartet of Leggett, Im, Klaassen and Kuhne augmented by the presence of two British musicians, tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock and the Scottish born trumpeter Alistair Payne, now based in the Netherlands. Payne also acts as the album’s mixing and mastering engineer. It’s an elaborately packaged release and the album brochure is a testament to Leggett’s love of poetry.

Tightly woven, progressively modern sounding without being atonal or full on avant-garde there’s plenty of space for in-depth examination of themes and motifs. Beyond the ‘Birdsong’ and ‘Million Dreams’ suites elaborate a cappella soloing from Leggett on ‘Solace’ abounds. When the band develops more traction it’s even more engaging.

The album title is a dedication to Leggett’s mother, Michelle Bird, and the title track is a two part composition that allows the quintet members plenty of opportunity to stretch out as Leggett explains in her album notes; “As a composer and bandleader my goal has always been to write music that gives the musicians I choose to play with the space in which to express themselves fully, and I’m grateful to them for embracing that space so fully”.

Introduced by Klaassen at the bass, joined by Im’s piano arpeggios, Leggett’s fluttering alto and Kuhne’s cymbal chimes and splashes the first part began in atmospheric fashion, with the twin saxes eventually combining to state the main melodic theme. Hitchcock then emerged as the first featured soloist. A short unaccompanied piano passage appeared to signal the transition into the second part of the composition with the saxes again combining to state the theme prior to an expansive piano solo, with Im accompanied by double bass and the bustle of vigorously brushed drums. A second unison sax passage was positively anthemic and was complemented by Kuhn’s powerful drumming as the quintet signed off with a flourish.

Alice Leggett, alto saxophone
Alex Hitchcock, tenor saxophone
Alistair Payne, trumpet
Chaerin Im, piano
Tijs Klaassen, double bass
Wouter Kühne, drums

Alice Leggett
Originally from Cardiff, Wales, alto saxophonist and composer Alice Leggett is an emerging voice in European jazz. After establishing herself in London, she is now based in Amsterdam, where her name is becoming increasingly recognised for her distinctive sound and compositional voice.

Alice is an active performer in the Netherlands, regularly appearing at leading venues such as the Bimhuis. She has performed there with Teis Semey's Super Deluxe Orchestra (featuring Marta Arpini, Sanem Kalfa, Fuensanta, Liva Dumpe, Federico Calcagno, Jasper Høiby, Jamie Peet, Giovanni Iacovella, and guest artists Louis Cole and Gxnzo). She also co-led the Alice Leggett & Chaerin Im Orchestra, which won the prestigious Keep an Eye International Jazz Award and toured South Korea in 2024.

She collaborates widely with musicians in the Dutch scene including Sun-Mi Hong, Tijs Klaassen, Chaerin Im, Teis Semey, and Alessandro Fongaro. Alice leads her own quartet featuring Chaerin Im (piano), Tijs Klaassen (bass), and Wouter Kühne (drums), with guest appearances from Alex Hitchcock (tenor saxophone) and Alistair Payne (trumpet) on her debut album Birdsong, which will be released on Zennez Records in May 2025.

The Birdsong project recently completed a successful six-date UK tour, fully funded by Arts Council England, with performances at venues including Jazz at Heart, The Hive, NQ Jazz, Digbeth Jazz, The Flute and Tankard, and The Vortex.

Previously based in London (2013–2020), Alice worked with a range of notable artists including The Calum Gourlay Big Band and Mark Lockheart’s Days on Earth (Edition Records, 2019). Her own UK quartet featured Rick Simpson, Calum Gourlay, and Will Glaser/Jon Scott, with performances at Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex, the Southbank Centre, and the London and Brecon Jazz Festivals. She was also a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Alice was named a ‘One to Watch’ in JazzWise magazine in 2019: “Young saxophonist and Trinity Laban graduate Alice Leggett is one to watch. But don’t just take my word for it—Mark Lockheart chose her to play alto in his Days On Earthband, and she’s also a member of Calum Gourlay’s Big Band – case closed.” – Helen Mayhew, Jazz FM.

During her Master’s studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Alice studied with Ben van Gelder, Jasper Blom, Simon Rigter, Tineke Postma, Reinier Baas and others. In 2023, she spent a semester in New York, studying with Craig Weinrib, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Immanuel Wilkins.

This album contains no booklet.