Effra (2025)
Misha Mullov-Abbado double bass
James Davison trumpet & flugelhorn
Matthew Herd alto & tenor saxophones
Sam Rapley tenor saxophone & bass clarinet
Liam Dunachie piano
Scott Chapman drums
Recorded at Livingston Studios in London
Misha Mullov-Abbado producer
Alex Killpartrick engineer & mixing
Kevin O'Reilly & Jake Reynolds assistant engineers
Caspar Sutton-Jones mastering
Rumney Design album artwork
Martin Hummel executive producer
"Effra" videos
"Effra" videos
"Effra" Album Trailer | Misha Mullov-Abbado
"Nanban" by Misha Mullov-Abbado (single from "Effra")
"Subsonic Glow" by Misha Mullov-Abbado (single from "Effra")
Album liner notes
“Effra” is a word often associated with the area of Brixton in South London which has been my home for the past ten years. It began as the name of a now-underground river that runs through the area, and has more recently been used as the name of a main road and two rival pubs, as well as a smaller road which one of the tracks on this album is named after. This album is a collection of all the music I have written for my band in the last four years, which has featured a resurgence in my love for both my home and for playing jazz after a difficult period in previous years, and these pieces reflect all the personal journeys in that time. I would like to thank Scott, Matt, Liam, Jim and Sam for sticking by my side in this band for almost a decade, and for offering so much love, energy and talent to this project. I would also like to thank Alex and Caspar for all the work getting the album sounding as high-quality as it does, everyone at Livingston studio for looking after us so well, Matt and Will for capturing such great footage of the session, and finally Martin and everyone at Ubuntu for taking this record on and enabling its release into the world and beyond.
Praise for Effra
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed the album so far. Click on the links below to read the full review…
"It’s immediately obvious how tight a unit the band are, such is the frictionless nature of their improvisations ... Considering the diversity of inspiration and approaches on the album it’s faultlessly cohesive ... The future of the label may be uncertain at present but Hummel’s legacy is assured with the love and care that went into releasing recordings of this quality”
James Read, UK Vibe ★★★★★
“Bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado … leads a muscular and inventive, horn-rich sextet in his eight-track celebration of Brixton’s cultural melting pot and his life there”
Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman ★★★★
“This band have played together on and off for around 10 years and it shows – the rhythm players have a real intuitive cohesion across the various styles on offer, and the horn section sound fully at ease with Mullov-Abbado’s writing, often sounding like a much larger ensemble.”
"Like Brixton market, there’s something for everyone"
Eddie Myer, Jazzwise ★★★★
“The sextet succeeds in blending inspired improvisation into meticulously crafted compositions that capture the vibrancy and vitality of urban life. Through this recording, Mullov-Abbado cements his position among the UK’s top bassists and showcases his outstanding musicianship along with creative energy that holds considerable promise.”
Neil Duggan, All About Jazz ★★★★
"One of the UK’s most acclaimed young bandleaders”
John Fordham, The Guardian Going Out, Staying In
“Effra’s eight tracks radiantly illustrate that [he can go anywhere], but typically for Mullov-Abbado, they do it with patience and craft, and a sense of confidence in how vividly his improvising partners will bring their potential to unpredictable new life”
John Fordham, UK Jazz News
“The way the melody expands so triumphantly over that solid groove – all sustained by Misha’s driving double bass” (on Traintracker)
“I promise you’ll find yourself involuntarily grooving along to its driving pulse” (on Rose)
Soweto Kinch, BBC Radio 3
“Already up there with some of the finest bassists ... Completely at home on stage ... Obviously a world-class player"
Stephen Graham, Marlbank Track of the Week (Nanban)
“Good things come to those who wait - and this certainly rings true for listeners of Misha Mullov-Abbado’s new release with Ubuntu Music, which has been in the making for over three years”
Maddy Allison, Presto Music Recording of the Week
"Widely regarded as one of London's most talented instrumentalists ... His remarkable skills are surpassed only by his charm and unassuming nature”
Barney Whittaker, Presto Music Artist Feature
“Effra is an album full of variety played by a band at the top of their game. Misha is full of praise for his musicians and loves the intuitive nature of the music that experience and understanding brings. The great care and attention that has gone into these very personal compositions, arrangements and recording are clear.”
Howard Lawes, Sandy Brown Jazz
“A tight sextet … They come across as a kind of a mini big band. The soloing is first rate, a band … great to see live"
Pete Butchers, Jazz Today
"A very talented young man ... His group of six musicians sound like a much larger band: big, bright and dynamic from the get go ... There is punchy solo work aplenty, and as well as having a beautiful and inviting tone to his bass, Misha writes a very catchy tune”
Rob Ryan, Camden Jazz Journal
"Rapidly becoming one of the most in demand and versatile bassists, Misha Mullov-Abbado presents his fourth album as leader in a programme of original compositions that display his virtuosity on the double bass and the sense of adventure that he can conjure up in his compositions ... The music is at once powerful and tender ... This excellent album comes highly recommended”
Nick Lea, Jazz Views
"If the latest album from multi-award-winning double bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado seems to exude affection, gratitude, and joy, it does so by design ... Mullov-Abbado sounds as at home in this music as he does in his Brixton neighbourhood”
Ron Schepper, Textura
"A remarkably talented bassist who at 34 has already mastered composing and arranging for large and small ensembles”
Michael Ambrosino, 33third.org
"Still crossing genre boundaries in a beautiful way”
Steve Harris, Hi-Fi News Album Choice
Jazz FM Track of the Week
Mark Walker, Dinner Jazz (Bridge)