The collection features Elvis Costello, Andy Sheppard, Richard Rodney Bennett, Paul Jones, Sarah Leonard, Steve Lodder, Stan Tracey, Alexander Balanescu, Guy Barker, Adrian Utley, The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, The choir of Worcester Cathedral.

John Fordham of the Guardian writes:-

Silencium (Harle 001)

Harle loves juxtapositions - long, silky saxophone notes against the sound of a classical soprano singer, the toll of a church-bell, African percussion rhythms, - that's the background to Silencium, but it's still an album of songs - it's just that Harle makes you reconsider what a song can be.

1. Morning Prayer 4.57
2. Spiritu theme from Channel 4 series 'Baby it's you' 5.50
3. Air and Angels theme from MTV's 'Take Four Girls' 5.10
4. The Family of Love 3.28
5. Lacrimosam theme from the feature film 'Butterfly Kiss' 5.25
6. Astrea theme from the Nissan TV commercial 4.39
7. The School of Mysteries theme from BBC1 series 'Defence of the Realm'  7.10
8. Light  theme from BBC 1 series 'HMS Brilliant' 5.12
9. Hymn to the Sun 4.49
10. Vices and Virtues 6.09
11. Night Flight 4.02
12. Silencium theme from BBC 1 series 'Silent Witness' 4.35

    
    

Terror And Magnificence (Harle 002)

Shakespeare via Elvis Costello, Gothic mysteries, free-jazz, forty saxes playing at once - Terror and Magnificence is a wonderful splicing of ancient and modern.

1. Illyria (Instrumental) (3.39)
2. O Mistress Mine (4.03)
3. Come away, death (4.28)
4. When that I was a little tiny boy (5.10)
   Elvis Costello, Vocals
   John Harle, Saxophones, Keyboards
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards, Chamber Organ
   Mitch Dalton, Guitars
   Roy Babbington, Double Bass
   The John Harle Band
   The Balanescu Quartet
   
5. Terror and Magnificence (20.06)
   John Harle, Saxophones Keyboards
   Andy Sheppard, Saxophones
   Thomas Russell, Actor
   Paul Clarvis, Percussion
   Chris Wells, Percussion
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards
   London Voices, (Director; Terry Edwards)
   The Three Ravens
   
6. Since first I saw your face (3.50)
7. The three ravens (5.37)
8. How should I my true love know? (4.53)
   Sarah Leonard, Soprano
   John Harle, Saxophones/Keyboards/Backing Vocals
   Alexander Balanescu, Violin
   Alastair Gavin, Keyboards
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards
   The John Harle Band
   
9. Hunting the Hare (7.28)
   John Harle, Soprano Saxophone/Percussion
   Andy Sheppard, Tenor saxophone
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards
   
10. Rosie-Blood (Sederunt) (13.32)
    William Purefoy, Countertenor
    John Harle, Saxophone Ensembles, Bass Clarinets, Keyboards, Percussion
    Paul Clarvis, Percussion
    London Voices (Director: Terry Edwards.)

    
    

Spirit Walk (Harle 003)

Harle seems to appreciate the idiosyncrasies of particular singers and players like a jazz conposer does, but he has an overarching vision that sets just the right place for all of it within his scheme of things, - that's why didgeridoos, string orchestras, trip-hop grooves, Andy Sheppard's sax or Sarah Jane Morris's voice can all sound as if they're in a real relationship here, rather than just bolted together.

1. Wedding Trance 5’45
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Programming/Keyboards
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards/Basses
   Paul Clarvis, Tamborine
   Richard Hammarton, Drum Programming
   
2. I Will Live! 5’00
   Curtis Bristowe, Mariao Hohaia, Voices
   John Harle, Programming, Keyboards
   Adrian Utley, 808 Loop, Dictaphones
   Paul Clarvis, Roca
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards, Basses
   Peter Beachill, Trombone
   
3. New Ashes 5’25
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Soprano Saxophone, Programming
   Andy Sheppard, Tenor Saxophone
   Steve Lodder, Piano
   David Coulter, Didgeridoo
   Chris Laurence, Double Bass
   Paul Clarvis, Darabuka
   Richard Hammarton, Drum Programming
   
4. Eternal 5’55
   Mariao Hohaia, Voice
   John Harle, Guitars, Programming, Decks, Keyboards
   Sarah Jane Morris, Vocal Loops
   Steve Lodder, Rhodes
   Paul Clarvis, Shakers
   
5. Spirit Walk 4’07
   Aboriginal Children from Pajinca
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Programming,Kaoss Pad,Keyboards
   Sarah Jane Morris, Vocalisations
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards, Basses
   Chris Laurence, Double Bass
   Paul Clarvis, Maracas, Cajon
   Richard Hammarton, Drum Programming
   
6. The Great Islands 4’52
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Soprano saxophone, Programming, Keyboards
   Andy Sheppard, Tenor Saxophone
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards
   Chris Laurence, Double Bass
   Paul Clarvis, Bendhir, Cajon
   Richard Hammarton, Drum Programming
   
7. Sunrise 5’37
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Soprano Saxophone, Guitar, Kaoss Pad, Programming
   Andy Sheppard, Tenor saxophone
   David Coulter, Didgeridoo
   Steve Lodder, Piano, Rhodes, Clavinet
   Chris Laurence, Double Bass
   Richard Hammarton, Drum Programming
   
8. Dreamtime 5’39
   John Harle, Soprano Saxophone, Programming, Keyboards
   Adrian Utley, 808 Loop, Ebow Loops, Dictaphones, Basses, Ring Mod Guitars, Kaoss Pad
   Will Gregory, VCS3, ARP,Moogamin,Oberheim Keyboards, Piano, Programming
   
9. Desert Walk 6’16
   Aboriginal Children from Pajinca
   Dancers and Singers from Savu, Indonesia
   John Harle, Programming, Keyboards
   Guy Barker, Flugelhorn
   Steve Lodder, Keyboards, Basses
   Paul Clarvis, Darabukas, Bendhir, Tbal

   
   

The Shadow of the Duke (Harle 004)

With Richard Rodney Bennett, Paul Jones, Sarah Leonard and Stan Tracey.

Harle understands both the jazz and classical traditions, and is brilliant at getting musicians of different backgrounds to work creatively together. All that makes Shadow of the Duke a completely different kind of tribute album.

1. Caravan (6.21) - Ellington/Mills, arr. John Harle
   Frank Ricotti, (Vibraphone,) Mike Henry, (Vocals.)
2. Sucrier Velours (4.47) - Ellington/Strayhorn, arr. John Harle and Steve Lodder.
3. The Mooche (5.52) - Ellington, arr. John Harle
   Paul Jones, (Harmonica)
   Derek Watkins, (Trumpet,)
   Terry Edwards, (Voice)
   
4. Sultry Sunset (4.20) - Ellington/Strayhorn arr, John Harle and Richard Rodney Bennett.
   Richard Rodney Bennett, (Piano).
   
5. Minniehaha (4.25) - Ellington, arr. Anne Dudley.
   Sarah Leonard, (Vocals.)
   
6. Isfahan (6.34) - Ellington/Strayhorn, arr. Richard Rodney Bennett.
   Richard Rodney Bennett, (Piano.)
   
7. Sonnet for Caesar (4.34) - Ellington/Strayhorn, arr. John Harle.
8. Star-Crossed Lovers (3.55) - Ellington/Strayhorn, arr John Harle and Richard Rodney Bennett.
   Richard Rodney Bennett, (Piano.)
   
9. In a Mellotone (5.14) - Ellington/Gabler, arr. Stan Tracey.
   Stan Tracey, (Piano,) Henry Lowther, (Trumpet.)
   
10. The Shadow of the Duke (4.59) - Harle.
    Sarah Leonard, (Vocals)
    Richard Rodney Bennett, (Piano.)

    
    

Songs of Earth and Alchemy (Harle 005)

The John Harle Collection
(boxed set of the four)

This collection expresses classical music's symmetry and lyricism through tradtional methods and modern electronics, opens a unigue widow on Duke Ellington, joins sharpend jazz to English folk balladry, and makes trip-hop, decks playing and world-music sound as if they belong together.
- Harle, the Alchemist of Ambient Soundscapes

 

JOHN HARLE – THE BALLAD OF JAMIE ALLAN/ Words by Tom Pickard (Harle 006)

The Ballad tells the story of Jamie Allan, an eighteenth century Northumbrian, piper to the Duke of Northumberland, and a wanted criminal. Allan had a double life. On the one hand he was a magical musician, playing for royalty. On the other hand he was a horse thief who deserted from the army five times. He died in Durham Jail, aged 75, having been pardoned from a death sentence by the king.

The music is composed by John Harle and the libretto is written by Northumbrian poet, Tom Pickard. Jamie Allan was commissioned by The Sage, Gateshead for their opening season in 2005.

Omar Ebrahim - Balladeer
Sarah Jane Morris - Balladeer
Bill Paterson -Narrator
Kathryn Tickell - Northumbrian Piper

Northern Sinfonia
Leader: Kyra Humphries

Conducted by John Harle

With Neil MacColl, guitar and Steve Lodder, keyboards

1. Gypsy Piper (2.55)
2. Durham Gaol (1.53)
3. Hey Up and Away (3.34)
4. Durham to whit (4.56)
5. Cumcleugh Ghyll (2.34)
6. The Sound of Deep Water (3.40)
7. Hey Up and Away (4.37)
8. The Sound of Deep Water
   (reprise) (6.52)
9. The Black Act (6.57)
10. Away Boys, Away (6.49)
11. Ralph Saulsbury Esq (7.31)
12. The River is Dark (5.37)
13. Hawthorne (7.54)
14. The Ballad of Jamie Allan (8.24)