Secondly, the Enlightenment was sometimes irrational, for example, the problems with reason itself, and the ignorance of other …show more content… John Locke in his Letter Concerning Toleration argues for a complete separation between church and state (2 - 5). Firstly, the use of rationality is not limited to the Enlightenment, and we cannot, without question, call it the singular Age of Reason. I propose that although the Enlightenment was a highly reasonable period, it is one of many reasonable periods, and is thus, more an Age of Reason. I refute this claim using two premises, one philosophical and the other historical. While the Enlightenment was undoubtedly a reasonable period, we should not determine that it was the Age of Reason. “It's a very emotional album, and I hope listeners will find their own stories when listening to it.” SCOPES make that task a pleasant one for audiences of all dispositions.The eighteenth century European Enlightenment is often referred to as the Age of Reason, however, this claim warrants critical evaluation. Summarising, Ruppnig describes Age of Reason as a “transportation of feelings. ‘Chocolate Travels Slowly’ is a band favourite featuring Tixier on blistering form, before the album closes with ‘Here’s My Prayer’, written for Tixier by Chalk with the aim of “finding melodies and chords that we could all really sink our teeth into.” Unable to tour or perform, SCOPES used that time constructively to create and explore the new sounds heard on Age of Reason. The freest track on the album, here we find SCOPES at their most focused, on Chalk’s quest to find “new ways to more fully express atemporality.” The title track follows with its combination of melodic ease and structural space, before ‘Gift of Time’, a tune born from the idea of how precious time is. Chalk contributes ‘Riotous Silence’ to the album, borrowing the title from a self-penned poem written in 2019. “We call ourselves a modern jazz band, but maybe this symbolises the urge to not always feel so hip,” says Ruppnig. ‘Vice’ begins on a completely different tack – Berkmann’s relaxed bossa slowly spirals out of control, aided by Chalk’s frenetic solo contributions. The angular, bop-ish feel of ‘Continuity’ (also from the pen of Ruppnig) follows a similar theme, on the need to keep a creative drive no matter what life throws at you. That feeling of maturity emerges on Age of Reason too – it’s the first SCOPES recording to feature the compositional skills of each member, delivering some thrilling results.Īge of Reason opens with ‘Deep Water’, a Tixier composition that carefully balances drive and expansion in a “dive into the depths of our biggest unacknowledged dreams.” For Ruppnig, the album’s aims are encapsulated by this tune– “the songs have an easy feel, and they’re not too specific – every musician has the space to have his own voice speak.” ‘More Hope’ came to Ruppnig when faced with relentless negativity during the Coronavirus period, with characteristically tumbling solo contributions from Tixier and space for Berkmann’s introspective soloing. “SCOPES is a creative space that we share, without boundaries.” The group’s second release, Age of Reason, is a personal and philosophical reflection on the pressing matters of a time, when all generations need to come closer together and become more aware of their surroundings. The group’s name SCOPES describes “the frame we all work within”, says Berkmann. Led by Austrian drummer Mathias Ruppnig, German bassist Tom Berkmann and French pianist Tony Tixier, American altoist Matt Chalk makes his debut with the quartet on this their second full-length release. Following their critically acclaimed eponymous debut in 2018, international jazz quartet SCOPES bring their blend of accessibility and adventure to Whirlwind Recordings for their second album, Age of Reason.