THE EIGHT WORDS
THE EIGHT WORDS is a jazz suite composed by Tim Boniface that reflects on the eight sayings of Jesus in the passion according to St John, written for the ArtsFest 2016 at St Paul's Church in Cambridge, and released on CD in Autumn 2016. The CD includes an 8 page booklet with an introduction to the project and a commentary on each of the movements.
Live performances of THE EIGHT WORDS have been enthusiastically received, from small local venues to a memorable performance in Rochester Cathedral in April 2019.
The Eight Words is available for online purchase here
"Beautifully played and conceived. The Eight Words is the work of a fine composer-musician—who also happens to be ordained. And this is the uniqueness here. The work is ambitious, thoughtful and accessible, yes. And it displays a vintage jazz sensibility, yes. But it is also deeply devotional, too, which makes the music all the more disarming and powerful."
Paul Northup, Creative Director, Greenbelt
"Tim's blues chops are in fine form throughout... an inventive session of hard bop by a quartet who play throughout with invention and commitment."
**** The Jazz Journal
THE INFANT
THE INFANT: A JAZZ SUITE FOR CHRISTMAS is Tim Boniface's latest work, released on CD in November 2019. Following the success of THE EIGHT WORDS, THE INFANT offers an original, deep and joyful exploration of Christmas, taking inspiration from the characters in the Christmas stories from Luke's Gospel.
Alongside Tim on saxophones, THE INFANT features the Phil Merriman (piano) Ed Babar (bass) and Jon Ormston (drums) plus a show stopping appearance from the renowned UK jazz vocal star Polly Gibbons.
The Infant is available for online purchase here
"Tuneful, sincere and exciting... and it swings. Tim Boniface's quartet play beautifully on his compositions. Some solos will blow you away: Tim's impassioned tenor and alto; Phil Merriman's piano - is there anything he can't do? - as well as the smart interlocking of the rhythm section. The bonus track with Polly Gibbons is a jam session so exciting that you never want it to end. ...Fine music."
Brian Case, jazz critic
"I have had such a blast listening to 'The Infant'....full of energy when required, gorgeously intimate at other points and always bursting with invention and passion. Each song has a biblical quotation from the nativity story as its starting point and the range of expression is broad, at times rejoicing, at others more tranquil and sacred. Great solos from Tim and all the band. Beautiful and uplifting."
Will Todd, composer