Sing without singing

Text: Kay Krijnen

His debut album 8 Songs led the press to dub him one of the best jazz newcomers. Liran Donin, the band leader of 1000 Boats. He’s also in great demand as a bass player and has performed with, among others, Led Bib, Polar Bear, The Unthanks and Mulatu Astatke. Music Meeting looked him up in London.

You’re anything but a beginner. So why did we have to wait so long for your debut?
'I’m in something of a wonderful vibe right now — touring, performing, producing records, then touring again. But finding time to make an album is a real challenge. I write a lot, and that music needs an outlet. So, this album came about naturally. There was a lot to say creatively, and it felt good to do it now.'

Why is your ensemble called 1000 Boats?
'It’s named after a wonderful installation by artist Yayoi Kusama. I saw this artwork as I was walking around a museum with my son, and the name stuck with me. When I was putting this band together I knew straight away what to call it. The name stands not only for a work of art but also for traveling, moving between continents, and perhaps also escaping.'

Can you say something about your process of composing?
'I compose at the piano or with the bass. The process occurs automatically and quickly. For me it’s a process of letting go of things and expressing the story. So, it often begins with a song text that informs the melody. For this album, I first wrote the melody with text, and then I recorded without vocals. All my numbers have a story to tell, but it’s up to the listener to interpret them.'

Why did you choose two sax players?
'In my view the sax can "sing" the song. The interaction between these two saxophone players is really interesting. Chris Williams and Josh Arcoleo are very good at interpreting the music. I give them a melody and they make it uniquely their own. Just listen to the number "Noam, Sea and Sand." The saxophones appear towards the end and fly over and around each other like butterflies, totally independent of the chord scheme. Every time I listen to that, it sounds like I’m hearing it for the first time.'