Don Glori's ‘Dawn Calling’ Is A Sprawling Jazz Epic
Don Glori. Photo supplied.
Melbourne artist Don Glori (aka Gordon Li) came about his artist name by deconstructing his actual name. In a similar way, Don deconstructs his influences, and re-arranges them in a way that truly represents him and his collaborators. His debut track, Dawn Calling, is a live-to-tape recording that took place over two days in February 2020, and the secrets the track hides require multiple listens to truly grasp its beauty. Each time you press play, you’ll discover a different section of the track to focus on - and the track is a melding of jazz, house, Brazilian music and more.
As the song ebbs and flows, you’ll be able to close your eyes and imagine yourself in the room with Don and his collaborators as they were recording this track. Music is at its best when it sounds like the creators were having a blast recording, and there’s an energy that emanates from Dawn Calling that’s infectious. If that’s not enough, the healthy dose of saxophone on the track immediately elevates it to a must-listen. You can never have too much saxophone in the mix of a track - especially on one that unfolds like Dawn Calling.
Dawn Calling comes off his debut EP of the same name, and Don says it’s true to the music he wants to make. “I was lucky enough to record this EP with some of my closest friends and oldest musical collaborators. I’m particularly proud of this body of work as I think it is a really accurate representation of my influences, what I was listening to, and the sort of music I wanted to make at the time.
”The decision to record this straight to tape was surprising to those who knew the music but it was a necessary choice in order to capture the spirit and energy that we’ve developed and honed through the live show. From start to finish, Tim (Cox, percussion), Lachlan (Thompson, saxophone) and Selene (Messinis, keys/synths)’s contributions are both tasteful and impressive - giving each other enough space, taking risks and knowing exactly when to step out and when to step up. This intangible connection only happens when everyone approaches the music with open ears and hearts. I can’t thank them enough for giving me their time and talent!”
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Check out Dawn Calling below. Every second of this track will hook you in, which isn’t always the case with tracks that fall outside the 2-4 minute range that so many artists stick to. If you’re not finding a surface near you and mimicking the rhythm of the drums on this track, then you’re not listening closely enough. You’ll be thinking about this long after you’re done listening, and it’s perfect for your next lounge room boogie session.