Through the Storm weaves two narratives. The first celebrates nature’s resilience and
renewal, inspired by the annual migration of swallows from Africa to Ireland. Their return
each spring is marked by joy and wonder, captured in the album’s opening tracks: We Begin
Here, Lift Off, Sky Journey, Through the Storm, Arrival, and Refuge. These pieces evoke the
swallows’ flight, the rhythms of nature, and the spirit of South African jazz, with
improvisation and interplay between musicians bringing each moment to life.
The second story is more sombre: the extinction of the Kaua’i ’ó’ó bird, whose final
recorded song in 1987 echoes through The Last Song suite. This four-part reflection—Eden,
Encroachment, The Last Song, and Return—explores the fragility of species and habitat,
posing a haunting question: can we restore harmony with the world we share?
The closing Epilogue, drawn from a longer improvisation, offers a final, heartfelt note.
