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Graham Costello
Primarily with his band STRATA, he has been nominated for Scottish Album of the Year, as well as seven Scottish Jazz Awards.
Costello formed STRATA in 2016 to blend stylistic elements of minimalism, jazz and noise bands together with a strong DIY ethic. This ethic came from Costello’s involvement in the DIY/indie scene, growing up touring all over Europe with noise rock and electro-psych bands. It was his formal studies in jazz that then led to the formation of STRATA - a band that would bring the two worlds together and become a crucial band at the forefront of new Scottish jazz artists surging into the UK scene.
This energy of noise rock, the organic improvisation of jazz, and the hypnotising patterns and feel of minimalism has been described as “a meteorite on the scene in Scotland and beyond.” ( The National)
After his widely-praised debut album “OBELISK” in 2019, Costello signed to Gearbox Records (Binker and Moses, Abduallah Ibrahim, Theon Cross, Sarathy Korwar) and began work on his follow-up album with STRATA. This new album, entitled "Second Lives", is due for release in May 2021.
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Graham Costello's Strata: Obelisk
by Mike Jacobs
Scots may have unfairly acquired a reputation for being aggressive. As such, it would be unfortunate if the inherent power in the title track from Scottish drummer/bandleader Graham Costello's album Obelisk (Self Produced, 2019) reinforced that stereotype to a degree. No worries though. Once your hair has been blown back a bit, there's no denying that power comes hand-in-hand with a host of other superlatives capable of dispensing with such silly generalizations. Watch out for Costello and his band of ...
read moreGraham Costello's Strata: Second Lives
by Gareth Thompson
A top German physiologist once compared the brain's nerve fibres to a piano's keys, on which our thoughts play or strike. Scottish drummer and composer Graham Costello might relate to this, given how well he writes for the piano, as he explores themes of mental challenges on this second album with his excellent band Strata. How we face inner hurdles to reach the other side preoccupies Costello here, though he also toys with notions of heritage and identity. ...
read moreNew releases from guitarist Jane Getter, Graham Costello and Strata and Cameron Graves
by Len Davis
New music from guitarist Jane Getter and Premonition, drummer Graham Costello and Strata, and guitarist Gabor Lesko's latest. Playlist Jane Getter “Still Here" from Anomalia (Cherry Red) 00:00 Adam Holzman “Ectoplasm" from Truth Decay (Big Fun) 06:28 Alex Skolnick “Conundrum" from Conundrum (Palmetto) 13:01 Robin & The Woods “Dark Waterfalls" from Moonfall (Bramar 19:32/li> Cameron Graves “Seven" from Seven (Mack Avenue) 26:00 Gabor Lesko “Earthway" from Earthway (Creativity Paradise) 32:22 Graham Costello and Strata “Impetu" from Second Life ...
read moreGraham Costello's Strata: Cygnus
by Chris May
Metal-head jazz! It could only have been made by a Glasgow band. Without wishing to perpetuate stereotypes, the vibe suggests musicians who have spent more time in whisky bars than Tom Waits, Rabbie Burns, Ava Gardner, Mark Twain and Raymond Chandler put together. The focus and precision of their playing, however, suggests sobriety was maintained in the studio. After an almost tentative start, “Cygnus" moves it on up, high energy, impassioned and in your face. Some will ...
read more“hypnotic, mesmerising...frankly thrilling - The Times
"Unrelenting waves of cinematic imagery accrue an intensity that never seems to level off, even after the last note has faded.” - Bandcamp
"Graham Costello’s STRATA combines drama, intelligent, incisive improvisation and Reichian minimalism!" - Jazzwise
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
