A band that had more or less gone for good, the unsuspecting victim of a fickle major label’s altered set of business priorities, now with a slight rejig in personnel and more of a democratic band name embark on a new phase this summer.

Drifter are a Belgium-based quartet led by Finnish pianist Alexi Tuomarila – best known for his Seven Hills trio and his tenure in Tomasz Stańko’s Dark Eyes band – and by saxophonist Nicolas Kummert; with new double bassist/vocalist Axel Gilain coming on board, and completing the band once more, drummer Teun Verbruggen, known for his work with the Jef Neve trio. Gilain replaces the original quartet’s Christophe Devisscher who appeared on earlier albums Voices of Pohjola and 02. Gilain and Kummert separately have a soul/acoustic/blues vocals-led band together called eNKa. 

Now brought back to life by English indie-jazz label Edition their debut Flow is to be released on 17 July. Mainly Tuomarila and Kummert compositions with bassist Gilain contributing lyrics and vocals to ‘Nothing Ever Lasts’ and writing ‘Toueï’ Flow also includes a take on Sting’s ‘King of Pain’ dating back to The Police album from the early-1980s, Synchronicity. SG

Drifter, above. Photo: Edition