Two 2024 sessions from the free improvising trio of John Butcher (tenor and soprano saxophones), Phil Durrant (electric mandolin and electronics), and Mark Wastell (drums and percussion): the two-part dialog "Around", recorded live at London's Vortex Jazz Club, and the four-part collective improvisation "Above", captured at The Rose Hill in Brighton, UK.
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Sample The Album:
John Butcher-tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Phil Durrant-electric mandolin, electronics
Mark Wastell-drums, percussion
Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.
Label: Confront
Catalog ID: core 51
Squidco Product Code: 35561
Format: CDR
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard Sleeve in Plastic Sleeve
Tracks 1 and 2 recorded at The Vortex Jazz Club, in London, UK, on April 23rd, 2024, by Andrew Lisle.
Tracks 3-6 recorded at The Rose Hill, in Brighton, UK, on April 26th, 2024, by Roger Harmar.
Bringing together three luminaries of the British free improvisation scene, this album documents two distinct performances from 2024, showcasing the unique synergy of John Butcher (tenor and soprano saxophones), Phil Durrant (electric mandolin, electronics), and Mark Wastell (drums, percussion).
Recorded live at London's iconic Vortex Jazz Club on April 23rd, the first two tracks (Around) capture a dynamic, two-part interplay that balances intricate dialogues and spontaneous exploration. Just days later, on April 26th, the trio reconvened at The Rose Hill in Brighton to create the expansive four-part improvisation (Above), marked by vibrant textures, adventurous sonic landscapes, and a deeper investigation into collective soundmaking.
With decades of individual and collaborative experience across the European improvisation circuit, Butcher, Durrant, and Wastell bring a profound musicality to their performances. Butcher's mastery of extended techniques on saxophones, Durrant's inventive integration of electric mandolin and electronics, and Wastell's sensitive yet commanding percussion converge to form a singular language. These sessions reflect their longstanding connection, having worked together in various configurations over the years, while continuing to push the boundaries of improvisational dialogue. This album is both a testament to their enduring rapport and a bold exploration of contemporary free music.

The Squid's Ear!
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for John Butcher "John Butcher's work ranges through improvisation, his own compositions, multitracked pieces and explorations with feedback and extreme acoustics.Originally a physicist, he left academia in '82, and has since collaborated with hundreds of musicians - Derek Bailey, John Tilbury, John Stevens, The EX, Akio Suzuki, Gerry Hemingway, Polwechsel, Gino Robair, Rhodri Davies, Okkyung Lee, John Edwards, Toshi Nakamura, Paul Lovens, Eddie Prevost, Mark Sanders, Christian Marclay, Otomo Yoshihide, Phil Minton, and Andy Moor - to name a few. He is well known as a solo performer who attempts to engage with the uniqueness of place. Resonant Spaces is a collection of site-specific performances collected during a tour of unusual locations in Scotland and the Orkney Islands.His first solo album, Thirteen Friendly Numbers, includes compositions for multitracked saxophones, whilst later solo CDs focus on live performance, composition, amplification and saxophone-controlled feedback. HCMF has twice commissioned him to compose for his own large ensembles. Other commissions include for Elision (Australia), the Rova (USA) & Quasar (Canada) Saxophone Quartets, reconstructed Futurist Intonarumori (USA), "Tarab Cuts" (based on pre-WWII Arabic recordings, and shortlisted for the 2014 British Composer's Award) and "Good Liquor .." for the London Sinfonietta. In 2011 he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists. Recent groupings include The Apophonics with Robair and Edwards, Anemone with Peter Evans, Plume with Tony Buck & Magda Mayas and a trio with Okkyung Lee & Mark Sanders.Butcher values playing in occasional encounters - ranging from large groups such as Butch Morris' London Skyscraper and the EX Orkestra, to duo concerts with David Toop, Kevin Drumm, Claudia Binder, Paal Nilssen-Love, Thomas Lehn, Fred Frith, Keiji Haino, Ute Kangeisser, Matthew Shipp and Yuji Takahashi." ^ Hide Bio for John Butcher • Show Bio for Phil Durrant "Phil Durrant. Born 1957; software synth/sampler, live electronics and acoustic violin. Phil Durrant studied classical violin and piano at the London College Of Music. Since 1977 he has been a freelance musician, improviser and composer. He has performed at festivals all over Europe, U.S.A and Canada and has had his music broadcast on radio and television in many countries. Current electronic projects include Ticklish, Secret Measures (with John Butcher), Lunge (with Gail Brand, Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders) and the international electronic orchestra, Mimeo. He also plays violin in Assumed Possibilities (with Chris Burn, Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell), "Beinhaltung", a trio with Radu Malfatti and Thomas Lehn another trio with Berlin musicians, Burkhard Beins and Ignaz Schick, and the string quartet Quatuor Accorde, with Tony Wren, Charlotte Hug and Mark Wastell. Durrant has also played in the very influential trio with John Butcher and John Russell, as well as the Chris Burn Ensemble. During his career he has played with many creative and important musicians, including: Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Grooverider, Shut up and Dance, John Zorn, Phil Minton, and Tom Cora. He has also been awarded various Arts Council grants to research and develop his use of electronics. Two current duo projects - at early 2001 - were: Durrant, violin and software synth/sampler with Wade Matthews, bass clarinet, alto flute; and Durrant software synth/sampler with Mark Sanders drums and sequenced samples. Phil Durrant has also been collaborating and composing music for a wide variety of choreographers. These include PLastic chill, In the face of a stranger and Deja deux with Maxine Doyle; Salome, Concrete and On stage with Susanne Thomas; Partial site, near view and Delay for five with Gill Clarke; Future perfekt with Ana Sanchez-Colberg; and Borderlander and Home zone with Sophia Lycouris. Salome, Concrete and Partial site, near view were site-specific and involved speaker systems in a number of different rooms. He recently wrote the music for a new play by Nick Sutton called Home movies." ^ Hide Bio for Phil Durrant • Show Bio for Mark Wastell "Mark Wastell, born 1968 and London based, is a versatile musician who has played a central role in the British and European improvised music scene for thirty years. He has performed and recorded extensively and his varied resume includes projects with Derek Bailey, Phil Durrant, John Butcher, Lasse Marhaug, Rhodri Davies, Simon H. Fell, Burkhard Beins, John Tilbury, Mattin, Tony Conrad, Evan Parker, Tim Barnes, Bernhard Günter, Keith Rowe, John Zorn, Peter Kowald, Joachim Nordwall, Otomo Yoshihide, David Toop, Max Eastley, Hugh Davies, Julie Tippetts, Alan Skidmore, Mike Cooper, Chris Abrahams, Stewart Lee, Clive Bell, Arild Andersen, Jan Bang, Erik Honoré, Maggie Nicols, Will Gaines, Thomas Lehn, Thurston Moore and David Sylvian. Mark has also run the Confront Recordings label since 1996." ^ Hide Bio for Mark Wastell
10/22/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
10/22/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
10/22/2025
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Around I 9:27
2. Around II 7:00
3. Above I 3:43
4. Above II 4:02
5. Above III 13:45
6. Above IV 9:54
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Collective & Free Improvsation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
New in Improvised Music
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