Shadow Portrait
Photo credit: Will Langley
Debut Album ‘Ray’ coming March 2027…
Alex’s new quartet is a vehicle for his compositional voice; drawing on influences from contemporary jazz, classical and romantic music as well as from study of ecology and mycelium.
‘Ray’, being released on Fresh Sound New Talent, presents a distinctive group sound and aesthetic, bringing these four leading UK artists together to interpret Alex’s material in exciting ways.
See Live to catch Shadow Portrait in concert. After launching the album at The Vortex in London, the band will be doing a focused UK tour in autumn/winter 2027.
Line-up:
Alex Merritt- tenor saxophone & compositions
Elliot Galvin- piano
Will Harris- bass
Dave Smith- drums
The core concept behind Shadow Portrait draws inspiration from organic structures-specifically the growth and behavior of mycelium networks in nature.
The album examines how mycelial fungal networks adapt to their environment, solve problems, and communicate as a collective, drawing parallels to the fluid, spontaneous decision-making of jazz improvisers.
"Shadow Portrait weaves a fresh approach to group decision-making and interplay," explains Merritt. "We look at how musicians interact within a musical ecosystem—responding, problem-solving, and adapting in real-time, much like forms in nature."