A song cycle featuring jazz standards along with Robert Wyatt originals and other songs associated with him, is to appear on the new Domino Records album, For The Ghosts Within, released next month on vinyl, CD and download on 11 October. The album is a collaboration between the revered singer and songwriter, plus saxophonist Gilad Atzmon with strings featuring violinist/composer Ros Stephen. Tracks are: ‘Laura’, ‘Lullaby For Irene’, ‘The Ghosts Within’, ‘Where Are They Now’, ‘Maryan’, ‘Round Midnight’, ‘Lush Life’, ‘What’s New; ‘In A Sentimental Mood’, ‘At Last I Am Free’ and ‘What A Wonderful World’.

Wyatt will launch the album headlining over two nights at the Jazza Music Festival organised in association with the Free Palestine Movement on 12-13 October at Scala on the Pentonville Road in London. The festival is to raise awareness, support and money for the people of Gaza and is the first in a series of events.

The line-up of Jazza also includes jazz singer Cleveland Watkiss; Northumbrian folk group the Unthanks; Jazz All Stars featuring Polar Bear drummer Seb Rochford; oud player Mizar Al-Issa; singer songwriter Rory McCloud; jazz singer/songwriter Sarah Gillespie; the Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble; and hip hoppers Shathayah (Ramallah Underground).

Robert Wyatt and Gilad Atzmon go back some time. The UK-based Israeli featured on Wyatt’s last album Comicopera released in October 2007 when Wyatt also appeared on the cover of Jazzwise. Comicopera was heavily informed by Wyatt’s deep anger and sadness about the war in Iraq reflected in several songs, as well as his deep love and knowledge of jazz.

– Stephen Graham

Look out for a review of For the Ghosts Within in the November issue of Jazzwise. For Jazza tickets go to www.scala-london.co.uk or phone 020 7833 2022.