Tuesday 14
Kammer Klang
The London / Paris-based duo Fred Thomas (piano) and Jiri Slavik (bass), perform a set of original compositions and improvisations, plus music by Messiaen, Kurtag and Webern. The programme also features Aisha Orazbayeva who will be playing some of Sciarrino’s Caprices for solo violin.
Thursday 16
Vandermark 5
Led by Ken Vandermark (tenor saxophone and Bb clarinet) the Quintet have been labelled ‘a modern-day band for the jazz ages’ (Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD)… Each of the band’s current members –Tim Daisy (drums), Kent Kessler (acoustic bass), Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello and electronics), Dave Rempis (alto and tenor saxophone) – have years of performance experience working with a wide variety of music. This, coupled with the range of instrumentation and stylistic potential held by the ensemble, allows Vandermark to compose material that runs the gamut of musical possibilities incorporating elements of jazz, contemporary, funk and rock into the group’s music. Even so, the Quintet’s main focus is improvisation. Each piece is arranged to allow ample room for the members to interpret and reinterpret the writing and in the spirit of the great bands scattered throughout the history of jazz, the Vandermark 5 has always concentrated on live performance as the means to hone its skills and develop its concepts.
Atomic
From Scandinavia, reviewers have described Atomic’s playing as ‘an explosive blend of American free-jazz with European characteristics’ – or as the group say, ‘part academic lecture, part a fun night out on the town’. While they make no secret of their admiration for leading American jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Archie Shepp, Charles Mingus and George Russell, the music of Atomic is also mixed with an equal love of European free jazz and improvised music. With their latest release ‘Retrograde’, Atomic is for those who like their jazz with both content and a sense of exhilaration. Fredrik Ljungkvist (reeds), Magnus Broo (trumpet), Håvard Wiik (piano), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums).
Sunday 19
Mopomoso
Continuing their monthly series Mopomoso brings you the best in free improvisation.
Stefano Giust / Noel Taylor / Steve Beresford
A welcome visit from drummer Stefano Giust – a tireless organiser and promoter of improvised music in his native Italy and founder of the Setola di Maiale label. A sensitive and creative improviser who also works as a composer for film and video he is joined by London based clarinetist Noel Taylor and and pianist Steve Beresford in this debut outing.
Lisa Ullen
‘New generation’ Swedish pianist Ullen came to the club with her quartet last year and we are pleased that she can return for this solo set. An intelligent and vibrant improvising musician with a firm background in jazz, this will be a rare chance to catch a player who is making waves on the Swedish and wider European stage.
Dave Solomon / Garry Todd
Drummer Dave Solomon and saxophonist Garry Todd were two of the leading ‘second wave’ free improvisers in the early seventies and this current duo has been a fixture for the last couple of years. Highly interactive and full of twists and turns this is music of both intellect and passion.
Pascal Marzan / John Russell
Guitarist Pascal Marzan is a leading light on the French improvisation scene and one of only a handful of musicians who use the nylon strung classical guitar in free improvisation. John Russell has been working in a duo with Pascal for over five years – their last appearance being a succesful concert in Montmartre earlier this year. A CD has been recorded and is awaiting release later in the year.
