Days on Earth

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Days on Earth is a 2019 studio album by Mark Lockheart, released on Edition Records. It features a six‑piece jazz sextet accompanied by a 30‑piece orchestra conducted by John Ashton Thomas. The music was recorded in December 2017 at British Grove Studios in Chiswick, London, over two days, and the album runs about 50 minutes. All tracks are composed by Lockheart, forming a six‑part suite (tracks 2 and 3 make one piece). Notable players include Liam Noble, Seb Rochford, and John Parricelli. Lockheart produced the album himself, and the first performance and album launch took place at Milton Court Concert Hall with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Studio Orchestra.

Reception was very positive. The Guardian gave four stars, praising Lockheart’s distinctive sax sound and calling the work ambitious and accessible beyond jazz fans. The Financial Times also awarded four stars, describing it as a stylish blend of contemporary European jazz with large orchestral textures. Jazzwise hailed it as Lockheart’s magnum opus, while DownBeat highlighted the groove of the track “Believers” and noted the music’s unpredictable, continually engaging momentum. MOJO called it Lockheart’s boldest, lush, and cinema‑like work to date. The album was also reviewed in Rondo and The Times.