REVIEW & INTERVIEW: OLI MORRIS “BIMAL”
“Bimal” has a Lo-fi introspective dreamlike quality thrown in the storytelling of jazz. From a recording Oli Morris documented during his trip in India, “Bimal” opens up a conversation about isolation and unity while capturing the essence of an enlightened, transformative journey.
Traveling to India has been Oli Morris’ dream for years. Before the global pandemic hit in March 2020, Morris was able to hop on a solo trip, heading to a different continent. Haven’t ever traveled alone to a foreign land on this scale, it was a little nerve-wracking, but his trip turned out to be transformative in the company of unforgettable encounters. Bimal is a naad yoga teacher, and a musician Morris and his friend met in Arrambol, Goa. Bimal is a spirited man with a big heart who is passionate about his beliefs and full of wisdom. “What struck us straight away was that he is a very charismatic spirit,” Morris said, “he would teach us how music in Sanskrit differs from how it’s taught in western culture and how to think differently about rhythm using techniques; such as Konnakol.”
Photo credit: Sam Gould
The beginning of “Bimal” is a voice memo from one of Bimal’s lessons. When Morris confessed his anxiety with trust and traveling alone, Bimal gave him a piece of advice that he carries to this day. “He reassured me that all these things were extraneous. Focusing on the positive things, even with small acts, are more intrinsic for a compelling and unforgettable journey,” said Morris. Throughout all the lessons Bimal has given, positivity and unity are the constant themes.
“I felt it was relevant for a few reasons,” Morris explained why he chose the particular clip to start the tune, “False media from the press is at an all-time high right now, and as a by-product of that, a lot of fearmongering going around trying to represent the times that we live in,” he continued, “it heavily perpetuates this negative image it’s so easy to ingrain that narrative in everyday life. We live in a highly divisive time now, and all this does is try to make us turn against each other instead of trying to form connections with other people.”
In remembrance of his trip to India and conversation with the current world, Olis Morris brought “Bimal” to life with vocalist, lyricist Chrissie Huntley, who beautifully captured the messages. “I loved the way she used the ‘waves’ metaphor Bimal was talking about to arc my shift in perspective,” Morris commented.
“Jazz is freedom. It aims to challenge preconceptions or beliefs we thought we had, opening up conversations about what makes us human,” said Morris, “Music acts as a vessel where I can express what I wouldn’t normally be able to talk about in a face-to-face conversation. It enables me to tell this story more concisely and creatively.”
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