Perfect Stranger, the 10-piece band originally conceived in 1974 by visionary composer and bassist Chris Sansom, is making its long-awaited debut with the release of their album Unfinished Business.
Sansom first imagined Perfect Stranger while studying for his B.Mus. in the early 1970s. Influenced by the likes of Yes, Frank Zappa and various jazz-rock-funk artists, Sansom sought to create music that defied conventional jazz and pop formulas. He assembled a group of gifted young musicians from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and other connections, including the legendary Pete Jacobsen on electric piano, to bring his ambitious compositions to life. Despite the talent involved, the original band never had the opportunity to showcase their work. Now, 50 years later, Sansom has reassembled Perfect Stranger with a new lineup of stellar musicians including Adam Bishop (alto and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, flute), Mick Foster (tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, flute), Shanti Jayasinha (trumpet & flugelhorn), Tom Green (trombone), Alcyona Mick (keyboards), Rob Millett (percussion), Eddy White (guitars), Paul Michael (bass guitar) and Jonas Golland (drums).
Unfinished Business features a selection of complex and challenging original compositions, rooted in classical composition techniques and jazz. The signature piece of the album, ‘Life & Times (of a Perfect Stranger)’, is a four-movement work loosely based on the structure of a classical symphony, with durations governed by the Golden Ratio. Another highlight, ‘Ludwig’s Van’, is a bold reimagining of Beethoven’s Große Fuge, Op. 133, blending shuffle, funk, reggae, and bebop.
“This project has been a long time coming,” says Sansom. “The music on this album is exactly half a century old at the time of release, and it’s incredibly rewarding to finally bring it to life with such a talented group of musicians.”
Live Dates
25 October – Reading, Progress Theatre
1 November – London, Karamel N22 (album launch)
6 November – Southend, Royal Hotel
30 November – Norwich, Puppet Theatre
