Pre orders open Fri 4 April

Twenty Nine years after its original release in 1996, my album Secret Island is for the first time ever being released on vinyl. It is a Deluxe Limited Edition and has been carefully digitally remastered by one of London’s top mastering engineers Andrew Tulloch for the occasion.

The album will be released on the Ethersounds label and distributed by Proper and by Burning Shed. The album comes in a heavyweight black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with photography by acclaimed photographer Mark Nelson and design by Carl Glover. 

‘Secret Island’ was recorded and released in the summer of 1996. It featured my fanatsic band of the time which featured David Gordon on piano, fretless bass player Rob Statham and drummer Marc Parnell. Also the amazing bassist Dave Sturt and drummer Andrew Small on a couple of tracks. The album also featured a musician who I would perform with for many years after and still do regularly to this day the one and only guitarist John Etheridge. 

Secret Island features seven original compositions including ones that have been performed a lot over the years - like ‘Lulworth Night’ which was to be a regular feature on Jazz FM. The track ‘The Crow Road’ was named after the book by Iain Banks, and Banks himself became a big fan of the track and the album. The album was recorded in Protocol Studios by legendary Island Records sound engineer Phill Brown who recorded and mixed the album. The album has a pristine Hi Fi sound, due to Phil Brown’s superb engineering skills that were to be responsible for classic recordings by Traffic, Talk Talk, Robert Palmer and John Martyn.

The music combines jazz with progressive music, incorporating rock and latin influences and cinematic atmospheres. John Etheridge delivers outstanding performances and classical/ jazz crossover pianist David Gordon shows his extraordinary touch, imagination and depth. 

The album was digitally remastered in January 2025 bringing the already beautifully recorded album even more clarity and presence.

The vinyl edition is available for pre-order here from Friday 4 Aprilhere from Friday 4 April, and I would get I quick as there are only 300 being pressed.

Some press quotes about the album:

 “One of the outstanding releases of 1996. A very fine album”  - Helen Mayhew. Jazz FM

 "Well up to scratch.... A cracking album."  - Brian Morton. BBC Radio 3  

“The CD sounds great. I’m immensely flattered that Crow Road the novel inspired Crow Road the track. Thank you.”  - Iain Banks

“Tenor sax prodigy sets engaging improvisation around a bluesy and soulful core” - The Guardian

“A beautiful, soft tone and conversational, non-hectoring approach are among this British tenor saxophonist’s outstanding characteristics.”  - Dave Gelly, The Observer  

"This is a sophisticated and mature piece of writing from a musician known as much for his composition as for his playing....an original and personal jazz conception " - Ian Ritchie. Absolute Jazz

"The strong melodic themes and thoughtful solos which distinguished his earlier recordings are much in evidence on the new one, and there's a bonus in the prescence of guitarist John Etheridge, whose ringing sound and bright ideaas add a new dimension to Travis' music." - Pete Martin. Jazz UK 

“Mood painting atmospherics”  - Birmingham Post

“ A very enjoyable recording by a very capable band and guests” - Jazz Rag, Birmingham

“The sound is warm and rounded…the whole outfit sounds poised, relaxed and beautifully modulated”  - Dave Gelly Musician magazine

John Etheridge really shines and the interplay of all the musicians is astonishing, The music ranges from dreamy and lyrical to full blown King Crimson style heaviosity. Thoroughly recommended. You have to get this! - Amazon

"Secret Island is an excellent example of Theo's skill as a leader, composer and saxophonist. From the very first track (Lulworth Night) a passion exudes. Don't expect to just sit back and listen, this is an album that demands attention and involvement. By the time Lulworth Night has finished you'll be anticipating another musical adventure. Hold on! The Crow Road is fast furious and exhilarating. By the end of the track the pause and ballad style of After The Storm will give you a chance to catch your breath. Superb night jazz – the ideas, compositions and atmosphere are superb." - Amazon

With Production and Soundscapes by Steven Wilson

(Panegyric Records. Released 6 September 2024)

Available from Burning Shed- Click Here!

Signed copies available direct from Theo – Click here

When Theo Travis began experimenting with long-form improvised instrumentals for duduk – a woodwind instrument from Armenia sometimes described as ‘the saddest sounding instrument in the world’, he could hardly have imagined a world in which such a one-hour piece would clock up in excess of a million plays on YouTube. Yet that is precisely what happened, with the multi-functional music finding fans purely in its own terms as well as for an array of uses from meditation to yoga, to relaxation & more. Something about the sound, the performances, the context, found, built & maintained a much wider audience than most, far more mainstream music, all without hype, marketing or a dedicated record label supporting the release.

Extending the idea, Theo worked with producer Steven Wilson, (who has previously mixed and mastered many of Theo’s solo recordings & in whose band Theo has played) to produce a new duduk improvisation in multi-channel audio as well as stereo, with soundscapes assembled by Steven Wilson from Theo’s alto flute playing. The result is a stunning & utterly unique piece of work which helps to define new possibilities for so-called “Immersive audio”, without losing focus on the pure sound of the duduk improvisations which have struck such a chord with a wide & growing audience online.

The new piece ‘Aeolus’ (again, one hour long) appears in Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound & 24/96 high resolution stereo on the Blu-ray & in standard 16/44 audio on the accompanying CD. Pre-orders now open on burning shed (see link above)

AEOLUS: Composed by Theo Travis & Steven Wilson

Theo Travis – Duduk & Alto flute

Steven Wilson – Production & Soundscapes

Ancient Soul, Modern Times: Composed by Theo Travis

Theo Travis – Duduk & Soundscapes

Comments on Theo’s One Hour Duduk Meditaitons

“I think God wanted to gift humanity an instrument to remind them of Him and this how we ended up with such divine sounds “

“This is the most melancholic sounding and most beautiful instrument on earth. Thank you.”

“Duduk touches my soul like no other instrument”

“The sound of the Duduk is totally different from all the music I have heard. Once your consciousness, your awareness connects with this sound fully, it empties the mind of self-centred thoughts and gives a blissful feeling!”

“Amazing divine sound of Armenian duduk when I feel overwhelmed and at lowest lows, I listen to this and it's the only music that helps me”

“When I feel emotionally high or overwhelmed and carried away from reality, I instantly turn to the sounds of the duduk, to bring me back down, planted, rooted and stay real. It’s really an antidote for my soul. Greetings, Armenia....! Much love from Canada.”

“Certainly one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. Sounds very, very ancient and haunting. “

“Theo is a gem, love his work with Soft Machine”

“It elevates my soul to higher places beyond earth “

“So poignant, so serene, so soulful... Thank you for this”

 See also Theo’s YouTube channel  @TheoTravisOfficial