SA: Jonathan Crossley to launch Inhale album in Joburg

The launch will be accompanied by a live performance of Crossley’s eclectic 10-track project, which was first launched in the UK in December. It features Crossley on synth guitar, Carlo Mombelli on bass and Jonno Sweetman on drums. Notable tracks on the album include ‘Hymn’, ‘Come Up For Air’, ‘First Operation’ and ‘Second Operation’.

The South Africa launch is courtesy of Concerts SA, in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation and IKS Cultural Consulting. Flame Studios and Soda World will provide the audio and video recording of the performance.

Indie music blog Bored City described the album as an excellent mixture and polished production, while local publication Texx and the City noted that “Crossley had never subscribed to creating within the confines of boundaries,” adding that the album is “refreshing and relevant in its adaptive, explorative – yet quite deliberate...”

Apart from making music, Crossley is a lecturer in music technology and currently based at the University of Liverpool, where he leads courses in hardware hacking, hyper instruments and free improvisation. He has a specialised interest in poly-genre musical cultures, creative practices and mediative technologies. Using the guitar, he explores stylistic outings from classical to improvisation, jazz through electronic, and develops instrumental and system innovations.

Some of his previous albums include Dreams of Skilia (2001), My Friends and I (2004), Funk for the Shaolin Monk (2007) and Got Funk Will Travel (2009). He has performed in Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Limited tickets to the event are available here.