EDY FOREY is a quirky, enigmatic music duo from Scotland. They are vocalist Edy Szewy and pianist Guilhem Forey and they call their music “urban Jazz”. They say they take a contemporary approach to music, fusing retro rhythm & blues, soul and funk and delivering it in a jazz context. Edy’s heroes and influences number Donny Hathaway, Phylis Hyman, Gill Scott-Heron and Lauryn Hill while Guilhem cites people like Michel Petrucciani, Chick Corea, George Duke and Herbie Hancock as musical role models – so, easy to understand where they’re coming from!
Over the last few months we’ve enjoyed some singles from ‘em – the peculiar but catchy and beguiling ‘Fire’ and a cover of the standard ‘Nature Boy’ -again beguiling.
We were told that the two tracks were from an upcoming album and said LP is now with us. It’s ‘Culture Today’ and it offers plenty more audacious and intriguing tracks like ‘Agape’ and ‘Peace Of Mind’.
Players on the album include drummer Femi Koleoso from 2024 Mercury Music Prize winning Ezra Collective, bassist Michael League and saxophonist Bob Reynolds from GRAMMY winning band Snarky Puppy, Sharay Reed, bass player with Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, Aretha Franklin, Rachelle Ferrell, Chaka Khan, GRAMMY winning saxophonist Alex Hahn, GRAMMY nominated flutist Sarpay Ozcagatay, Japanese jazz veteran TOKU on flugelhorn, Miho Wada on flute and percussion from Brazilians Isac Jamba and Carlinhos Percussao. The icing on the cake are the mixing and mastering enhancements of GRAMMY award winning producer Bob Power.
Edy Forey’s ‘Culture Today’ won’t be every one’s cup of soul or jazz Earl Grey but if you have adventurous ears you’ll discover plenty of intrigue and lots to provoke.
