For the past two years The Alison Rayner Quintet has built a substantial and wide ranging audience for what Jazz UK have described as“deliciously upbeat, groovy and thoughtful jazz”Their new album A Magic Life was recorded in London over the summer and will be released in November featuring melodic and harmonic references from classical, rootsContinue reading “Meet The Band: The Alison Rayner Quintet”
Tag Archives: Jazz
Meet The Band: The Tori Freestone Trio
The Tori Freestone trio this week commence their UK tour performing tracks from their latest album El Barranco. Playing a mix of original compositions and standard repertoire, the band explore the open quality that the trio format provides whilst taking inspiration from some of the non-chord sax led trios of the moment. Ahead of theContinue reading “Meet The Band: The Tori Freestone Trio”
Meet The Band: The Matt Ridley Quartet
As the eponymous leader of his own Quartet, British double bassist and composer Matt Ridley is a specifically investigative musician whose artistry is derived from a desire to create a strong, meaningful and structural purpose out of each initial glint of inspiration. Following up his 2013 debut release Thymos on Whirlwind Recordings, his new album Mettã –Continue reading “Meet The Band: The Matt Ridley Quartet”
Meet The Artist: Ant Law
Guitarist and composer Ant Law is back on tour this Spring performing with his new trio music as well as favourites from his critically acclaimed debut album. His tour brings him to Monmouth’s Queen’s Head on March 30 where Matt Ridley joins him on double bass and the drum chair is split between Asaf SirkisContinue reading “Meet The Artist: Ant Law”
Meet The Band: GoGo Penguin
Manchester based trio GoGo Penguin (drummer Rob Turner, double bassist Nick Blacka and pianist Chris Illingworth) bring their trademark mash-up of minimalist piano themes, deeply propulsive bass lines and electronica-inspired drums to Cardiff’s The Gate Arts Centre on February 6. The band have previously been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and fueled their exhilarating liveContinue reading “Meet The Band: GoGo Penguin”
Meet The Artist: Julian Argüelles
Esteemed British saxophonist Julian Argüelles brings his working quartet, Tetra, to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama tonight. This follows the release of his the album Tetra which also features Kit Downes (piano), Sam Lasserson (bass) and James Maddren (drums). Known widely as an original member of seminal big band Loose Tubes, asContinue reading “Meet The Artist: Julian Argüelles”
Meet The Artist: Matthew Halsall
Matthew Halsall is one of the brightest stars on the UK jazz scene. With five albums already under his belt, his languid, soulful and deeply expressive playing has won him a legion of fans with critical praise from everyone from Jamie Cullum and Gilles Peterson to Jazz FM. His last album When The World WasContinue reading “Meet The Artist: Matthew Halsall”
Review: The Big Chris Barber Band, Newport Riverfront
There are some shows which immediately fall on to the must-see radar for me and the scheduled appearance of legendary jazz star Chris Barber and his Big Band at Newport Riverfront was certainly one of those. “I am frequently greeted by people at my concerts who say “I last saw your band in 1955”” BarberContinue reading “Review: The Big Chris Barber Band, Newport Riverfront”
CD Review: Ultimate Sinatra by Frank Sinatra
In celebration of Frank Sinatra’s centennial year, Ultimate Sinatra is a 25 track career-spanning collection of the King of Cool’s greatest recordings ranging from 1940’s All or Nothing At All to 1979’s New York New York. Do we need another Sinatra compilation when there are so many available already? In the case of this release, aContinue reading “CD Review: Ultimate Sinatra by Frank Sinatra”
Meet The Band: Troyka
Troyka are an experimental British trio who make rich and enthralling instrumental music. Featuring Kit Downes (once Mercury nominated in his own right) on hammond/synths, Chris Montague on guitar/loops and Josh Blackmore on drums, Troyka is far more than the sum of its parts and is definitely not your usual Hammond organ trio. Ornithophobia isContinue reading “Meet The Band: Troyka”