Shapeshifter Mark Lockheart, Huw V Williams, Jay Davis

• 1 Shapeshifter 05:30
• 2 Come On Over 04:47
• 3 A Good Place 02:12
• 4 Milking The Stone 05:23
• 5 Rule Of Three 04:53
• 6 Mustering 02:33
• 7 Strawberry Moon 06:55
• 8 Glow 03:41
• 9 Leeds Place 06:50
• 10 14-2-25 02:04
• 11 Tangs 02:03
• Total Runtime 46:51

Info for Shapeshifter

Taking the exploratory spirit of groups like Polar Bear and Malija the band move together through a common language of jazz, rock, classical and free improvisation exploring dark textures and dramatic musical shifts as they revel in the unexpected.

Dynamic jazz improvising combined with spatial and ambient sounds gives this band its unique and bold concept. The music shifts effortlessly moment to moment, gracefully and spontaneously stitching together sound landscapes and grooves. The subtle use of electronics, fat rich bass lines and tantalising drum rhythms give this band a unique sound that although firmly rooted in jazz has rock, folk and classical influences too.

"Collectively, the album demonstrates the power of three highly individual voices operating in complete synchrony. It is music of intelligence and poise, where every note, pause, and texture feels intentional. Shapeshifter is not a leader-and-rhythm-section album; it is a statement of shared vision, a distinctly British articulation of modern jazz rooted in lyricism, colour, and careful balance. The result is a record that feels both expansive and intimate, sophisticated yet immediate, and unmistakably reflective of its players’ homegrown sensibilities. For anyone seeking the cutting edge of contemporary British jazz — composed, improvised, and deeply considered — Shapeshifter is an essential listen." (Steve Williams, ukvibe.org)

Mark Lockheart, saxophones, bass clarinet
Huw V Williams, double bass
Jay Davis, drums

Recorded by Giles Barrett at Lightship Studio, London
Mixed by Giles Barrett
Mastered by Technology Works
Produced by Mark Lockheart
Executive Producer: Olivia Maguire

Mark Lockheart
is one of the UK’s most distinctive and forward-thinking saxophonists and composers, celebrated for his fearless creativity and genre-defying collaborations. Whether leading ambitious orchestral jazz projects, reshaping Ellington for the 21st century, or blending electronics with acoustic improvisation, Lockheart has continually reimagined what British jazz can be. His recent albums — the critically acclaimed Dreamers (2022), which explored lush electronic soundscapes, Smiling (2024), featuring a 13-piece ensemble, and the upcoming trio album Shapeshifter (early 2026), which combines bass, drums, saxes and subtle electronics — are further examples of his creativity and ever-evolving musical vision.

These works build on a rich legacy of innovation that includes his landmark orchestral Days on Earth (2019) for jazz sextet and 30-piece orchestra, the meditative Salvator Mundi (2019) recorded at Temple Church in London with organist Roger Sayer, the award-winning Ellington in Anticipation (2013), and the creative trio Malija with Jasper Høiby and Liam Noble.

Lockheart first came to prominence with the pioneering big band Loose Tubes, before going on to shape the UK scene through projects such as Perfect Houseplants and the Mercury Prize-nominated Polar Bear. With Polar Bear, he recorded six groundbreaking albums over twelve years — including Held on the Tips of Fingers (Mercury nomination, 2005) and In Each and Every Way (Mercury nomination, 2013) — and the group also received a MOBO Award nomination in 2004. These recordings became touchstones of British jazz’s modern renaissance.

A collaborator of remarkable range, he has worked with Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Seb Rochford, June Tabor, Django Bates, the NDR Big Band, Robert Wyatt, Radiohead, and Mark-Anthony Turnage, with whom he premiered major contemporary works such as About Water and Anna Nicole at the Royal Opera House.

He has also performed with and collaborated alongside an extraordinary range of composers and artists across genres, including Huw Warren, Nikki Iles, Laura Jurd, John Parricelli, John Paul Jones, John Pattitucci, Louis Stewart, Stereolab, Prefab Sprout, Thomas Dolby, Burt Bacharach, and even the likes of British icons Ronnie Corbett and Tommy Cooper!

Lockheart’s artistry has earned widespread recognition, including Jazz FM Instrumentalist of the Year (2016), Parliamentary Jazz Musician of the Year (2010), and the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Composer Award (2019). Through his writing, performing, and collaborations, he continues to bridge jazz, classical, and electronic worlds — confirming his place as one of Britain’s most imaginative and influential musical voices.

This album contains no booklet.