Award-winning Howl Quartet return with their third album, Night Song, a rich collection of original music shaped by storytelling, improvisation and musical connection. Named after Allen Ginsberg’s seminal poem Howl, the quartet features long-time collaborators Dan Smith (alto saxophone), Harry Brunt (tenor saxophone), Pete Komor (double bass) and Matt Parkinson (drums).

The tracks on Night Song reflect Howl Quartet’s narrative range, with each composition offering a personal or poetic point of departure. The title track, ‘Night Song’, captures the shifting emotional landscape of new parenthood, drawing on quiet intensity and tenderness. ‘Falling Man’ is a moving tribute to Brunt’s great uncle, an RAF pilot who died in a plane crash shortly after the Second World War, while ‘Renjo’ channels the drama and exposure of a high-altitude journey through the Himalayas. ‘Smallhope’, dedicated to a much-loved family home, unfolds slowly with warmth and nostalgia. ‘Embers’ reflects on the quiet, transformative energy of a fire’s dying glow. ‘Oku’ is a journey inward, drawing on the Japanese idea of inner space, ‘Tolls’ offers a sombre reflection on consequence and choice and ‘Gwdihŵ’ is a lively tribute to the much-missed Cardiff venue where the group’s early musical friendships began.

Each member of Howl Quartet brings their own musical voice to the group, but it is the strength of their long-standing connection, musically and personally, that defines the band’s sound. With its balance of lyricism and exploration, Night Song is both a natural progression and a bold new chapter for the quartet.