The Squid's Ear Magazine

Archer, Martin

Anthropology Band [2 CDs]

Archer, Martin : Anthropology Band [2 CDs] (Discus)

Inspired by the music of 70's Miles Davis electric work, composer and saxophonist Martin Archer presents 15 compositions performed in two parallel sessions over two CDs, the first in a septet that includes Corey Mwamba, Pat Thomas and Dave Sturt, and the second an extended ensemble with brass and wind sections, each bringing distinctive life to these inspired compositions.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Martin Archer-saxophones, electronics, composer

Charlotte Keeffe-trumpet, flugelhorn, arranger

Chris Sharkey-guitar, electronics

Pat Thomas-keyboards, electronics

Corey Mwamba-vibraphone

Dave Sturt-bass guitar

Peter Fairclough-drums

Ben Higham-tuba

Mick Somerset-concert, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo

Nathan Bettany-oboe, cor anglais

James Mainwaring-soprano saxophone

Hannah Brady-alto saxophone

Riley Stone-Lonergan-tenor saxophone

Alicia Gardener-Trejo-baritone saxophone


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 5051078969626

Label: Discus
Catalog ID: 90CD
Squidco Product Code: 28239

Format: 2 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded at Chairworks, in Castleford, UK, in September 2018, and April, 2019, by David Watts.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Taking the electric music of Miles Davis as its starting point, Anthropology Band is about finding the atmosphere through a deep rhythm, a searing blues run, a delicate melody, or a cascading solo statement. Band leader Martin Archer has kept the music as simple as possible - often driven by the bassline - and the structures loose, to enable this who's who of UK creative musicians to let the music breathe in a different way each time it is played. There are multiple chordal instruments in the centre of the sound, allowing each soloist to sit on a kaleidoscopic wave of intercrossing figures which push the music forward. And on the second CD an 11 piece brass and woodwind section, arranged by Martin and Charlotte Keeffe, is added. We wrote these parts with the idea in mind "what would Gil Evans have written for Bitches Brew?"-Discus



"On this double CD, the Anthropology Band is both a septet (on CD1) and an ensemble (on CD2). In both configurations, the band play through a set of fifteen compositions. The whole set is inspired by electric Miles. On the opening track, 'Fiction Fraction', I thought I could hear refrains from 'In a silent way', 'Pharaohs Dance, and 'Bitches Brew' running through it. Some of these were clear stated by trumpet, others implied and immediately over-written by the electronic effects and other instruments. As the pieces develop, so the Sharkey's wonderfully discordant guitar buzzes across the themes and the rhythm section drive a solid funk. This is reimagined electric Miles that captures the excitement of the 1970s recordings but never becomes too beholden to the quest to reproduce the 'sound'. Archer is too subtle a player and band-leader to do anything that simple. Indeed, in collaboration with Keeffe, he approached the ensemble versions of these compositions with the question 'what might Bitches Brew have sounded like if Gil Evans had arranged it?' Well, one answer to that might have sounded like the Evans various cover versions of Jimi Hendrix songs; which I feel often show how much of the electric sound Evans didn't quite get - for me, Evans tended to hear 'rock' where Miles played funk (albeit heavy, electric, out-there funk). What Archer understands is that space between (indie) rock and funk - and to which he brings his own approach to electronica. This creates a sound that is both contemporary and true to the sounds that Miles (and Teo Macero) were working towards. If this was a single album, the effect would be impressive and, for anyone with an interest in '70s Miles, well worth a listen.

On the second CD, the bar is raised further, with Keeffe and Archer taking the tunes from the septet and reworking them with a brass and woodwind ensemble. For the first few tracks, the scale of the ensemble is used sparingly, almost as an echo of the saxophone lines or a means of adding spice to the keyboards as they accompany some searing guitar playing and bouncing bass lines (which are played again on the ensemble versions). This gives a different flavour to the pieces, as if they are being played in a hall of mirrors, with the brass and woodwind reflecting and distorting the sax lines. These pieces have a feel of contemporary classical compositions, with subtle shifting of key and careful balancing of sound between the instruments. With tracks like 'Why so?' or 'Snap call / Back wall' the power of the ensemble comes to the fore and the feeling is of a big band playing post-bop.

I like much of what Archer has been releasing in recent years, but this recording stands head and shoulders above his other recordings. This really deserves a wide and enthusiastic audience and is highly recommended. There is an eight piece concert band that will be touring this set early next year, and that will definitely worth seeking out.​"-Chris Baber, Jazz Views


Get additional information at Jazz Views

Artist Biographies

"Martin Archer was born in Sheffield, England, in 1957. He started playing saxophone at age 15 and first got active on the Sheffield improvisational scene in 1973. In the early '80s, he recorded an LP with Bass Tone Trap, his first group. In 1983 he formed the saxophone quartet Hornweb, which, in ten years of existence, released three albums. It is during that time that Archer released his first solo album, Wild Pathway Favourites (1988) and founded the Discus label on which he since releases all his music.

In 1993, he disbanded Hornweb and turned to synthesizers and sequencers while shifting his activities from stage to studio. He developed a compositional approach in which he records improvisers soloing, then manipulates this raw material, combining it with electronics and structuring it into a whole new piece. This technique is illustrated on Wild Pathway Favourites, Ghost Lily Cascade (1996), and Pure Water Construction (with bassist Simon H. Fell, released in 1999). Later works such as Winter Pilgrim Arriving (2000) moved toward more constructed and less abstract pieces, even making room for melodies and rhythm tracks at times.

Apart from his solo work, Archer is also involved in Ask, a duo with guitarist John Jasnoch, and Transient v Resident, an ambient electronics project with Chris Bywater."-All Music, François Couture



"Martin Archer is a composer / improviser who is equally at home on stage or in the studio. His own distinctive saxophone playing is rooted in AACM jazz. Through his use of keyboards and electronics, and as a studio producer, he extends this interest into extended song form and leftfield rock music. He is also co-director of the uncategorisably avant choir Juxtavoices.

His principle music work is the Discus Music label, the imprint for his various releases, notably by the groups described below.

His current jazz based projects include Engine Room Favourites (current a 4 drummer, 14 piece big band), Story Tellers (6 piece group including shaman instruments alongside the conventional instruments), plus various ad hoc smaller groups. All of these are strongly aligned with AACM tradition and teaching.

Archer has a long running duo with veteran vocalist Julie Tippetts. Each of their highly acclaimed CD releases deliberately explores song from a different perspective - the duo aims to be truly progressive, and takes in elements from jazz, rock, soul and pure abstraction.

Archer's main live performance vehicle is the trio Inclusion Principle with Herve Perez and Peter Fairclough. The group operates in a space between electronics, nu-jazz, contemporary electroacoustic music and free improvisation. In performance you will hear pure jazz skill, electronic beats and areas of texture and abstraction all seamlessly woven into a fascinating and constantly shifting tapestry of sound.

The sprawling Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere was formed by Archer as an improvising rock group with shades of Terry Riley, Magma, Alice Coltrane and Sun Ra, very much in the progressive / krautrock tradition, and noted for its large scale string, horn and vocal arrangements.

Also in rock music, Archer is a member of the USA based heavier than plutonium prog / sludge / zeuhl group Combat Astronomy under the direction of Jamie Huggett.

Surprising, delighting and occasionally alarming audiences for a number of years now, Juxtavoices is a 30 piece choir for mainly untrained voices co directed by Archer with Alan Halsey which has racked up dozens of performances and issued three CDs.

This eclectic combination of sources and highly individual applications makes Archer a unique inhabitant of the school of English maverick composer / improvisers. "-Discus

-All Music, Discus Records (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/martin-archer-mn0000146946)
11/29/2024

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"Trumpeter Charlotte Keeffe's unique approach and passion for improvised, experimental and jazz music has seen her performing regularly across the UK and internationally as a soloist and as part of several ensembles, duos and trios. Her music has been featured on BBC Radio 3, Resonance FM and Jazz FM and recent appearances with her quartet include Jazz In The Round and a sell-out performance at Lancaster Jazz Festival. Other recent highlights include being featured as a performer and composer/arranger on Sheffield-based Martin Archer's latest project, Anthropology Band, performances with Alex Ward's Item 4 and regular appearances and conductions with the London Improvisers Orchestra.

Inspired by the likes of Miles Davis and Polish artist Tomasz Stańko, Charlotte studied Jazz Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama before going on to become a scholarship recipient at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and a Help Musicians UK Award Winner. With her Quartet, Charlotte explores the relationship between her compositions and experimental improvisation, producing a unique musical experience inspiring creative freedom of expression. Bassist Ashley John Long, drummer Ben Handysides and guitarist Moss Freed join Charlotte in this latest collaboration.

Charlotte is also a performer with The Brass Monkeys, Moss Freed's Union Division and Calum Gourlay's Big Band. She took part in the Summer Studios Artist Residency 2019 with drummer Andrew Lisle and bassist Otto Willberg in Andrew's trio project at The Sage, Gateshead. Charlotte played in Marin Alsop's Taki Concordia Orchestra at the World Economic Forum 2019 playing to world leaders and celebrities including Sir David Attenborough. She's performed at several music festivals including Brecon Jazz as part of Steve Waterman's Big Band, Glastonbury and Wilderness alongside Liane Carroll, Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, Kate Nash, Camille O'Sullivan and Will Young."

-Charlotte Keeffe Website (https://www.charlottekeeffe.com/biography)
11/29/2024

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"Chris Sharkey is a musician from the north-east of England.

Based in leeds since 1999, chris has dedicated the last 20 years to making forward-thinking new music that blurs boundaries between improvisation, production, composition and the associated genres of these often separated fields.

He is an active national and international performer as a member of Acoustic Ladyland, Triovd, Shiver, The Geordie Approach, Roller Trio and as a solo artist.

Chris is a also a producer and has recorded, mixed and remixed music for for ACV, Mole, Taupe, Seb Rochford, Oliver Coates, Troyka, World Service Project, Triovd, Shiver, Beyond Albedo, Session Fries, The Geordie Approach, Roller Trio, The Orchid And The Wasp and more."

-Chris Sharkey Website (https://www.chrissharkeymusic.com/media)
11/29/2024

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"Born 27 July 1960; Piano, electronics. Pat Thomas started playing at the age of 8 and studied classical music and played reggae. He began playing jazz at sixteen after seeing Oscar Peterson on television then listened to snatches of jazz on the radio before, in 1979, playing his first serious improvised gigs. From 1986 he played with Ghosts which was Pete McPhail and Matt Lewis.

In addition to programming his keyboards, Pat Thomas also utilises prerecorded tapes. He told Chris Blackford (1991), 'As far as the tapes are concerned I'll probably just sit in front of the TV and tape whatever's going on and so some editing afterward to decide what might be useful. ...But I don't actually put a label on each tape saying what's on there, so when I come to use them I don't know what I'm going to be playing. That obviously prevents me from setting things up. I pick them at random and see what happens. So I'm just as surprised as anybody else at what comes out'.

In 1988 he was awarded an Arts Council Jazz Bursary to write three new electroacoustic compositions for his ten-piece ensemble, Monads: Roger Turner and Matt Lewis, percussion; Pete McPhail, WX7 wind synthesizer; Neil Palmer, turntables; Phil Minton, voice; Phil Durrant, violin; Marcio Mattos, bass; Jon Corbett, trumpet; Geoff Searle, drum machines. The intention was to feature different aspects of electronics using improvisation so, for example, one piece - Dialogue - featured Pete McPhail and Neil Palmer, another concentrated on the interaction of percussionists and drum machines, and a third piece had Phil Minton and Jon Corbett improvising with a computer. The pieces were performed at the Crawley Outside-In Festival of new music in 1989.

Pat Thomas was invited by Derek Bailey to play in Company Week in 1990 and 1991 and he also took part in the Ist International Symposium for Free Improvisation in Bremen with the guitarist. He has been a member of the Tony Oxley Quartet (documented on Incus CD 15) and played in Oxley's Angular Apron along with Larry Stabbins, Manfred Schoof and Sirone at the 8th Ruhr Jazz Meeting and in the percussionist's Celebration Orchestra. He plays with Lol Coxhill in a range of combinations from duo to being a member of 'Before my time', is a member of Mike Cooper's Continental Drift, and he has a well established duo with percussionist Mark Sanders and a trio with Steve Beresford and Francine Luce. In 1992 Pat Thomas formed the quartet Scatter with Phil Minton, Roger Turner and Dave Tucker; funded by the Arts Council they toured the UK in 1993 and again at the beginning of 1997.

On the 'Festival circuit', Pat Thomas has appeared at: the Young Improvisors Festival at the Korzo Theatre, Den Haag (with Jim O'Rourke, Mats Gustafsson and Alexander Frangenheim); Angelica 95 in Bologna, Italy; the Stuttgart 5th Festival of Improvised Music 96 (with Fred Frith, Shelly Hirsch, Carlos Zingaro and others); and the 3rd International Festival 96 in Budapest (with Evan Parker, Phil Minton, John Russell and Roger Turner).

-EFI (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/mthomas.html)
11/29/2024

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"Born and based in Derby, Corey Mwamba's commitment to jazz and improvised music in Britain and Ireland drives all aspects of his work, whether through composition, playing, or promoting new music. Corey predominantly plays vibraphone; he also plays dulcimer and uses audio processing software. He is recognised as a highly creative improviser and composer working across a wide range of jazz and contemporary music. Mwamba's distinctive approach and tone is instantly recognisable in any context: a potent blend of pure sound, highly melodic phrases and ethereal textures; barely whispered chords and ear-piercing robotic screams. Corey won a PRSF/Jerwood Foundation Take Five artist development award in 2007; was short-listed for the Innovation category in the BBC Jazz Awards in 2008; and was nominated for "Rising Star on Vibraphone" in the 62nd, 63rd, and 64th DownBeat Annual Critics' Polls.

Mwamba's main group is the critically acclaimed Yana with Dave Kane (bass) and Joshua Blackmore (drums). This group exemplifies a core ideal of creating an "open, living music"; listening and responding spontaneously as a unit to make music that has love, language and a groove. Their first studio release don't overthink it was hailed as "engaging and evocative" (All About Jazz) and described as "the sound of three minds working together in a utopian zone, way beyond the individual ego - and producing something quite beautiful in the process" (Jazzwise). Dave and Corey are also in an improvising sextet called The Spirit Farm, formed out of research by pianist Adam Fairhall. Mwamba and Fairhall also form a trio with drummer Johnny Hunter called Backyard Chassis.

He is a member of the Anglo-French quartet Sonsale with bassist Andy Champion, drummer Sylvain Darrifourcq and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi. Corey also works with Andy in an improvising trio with saxophonist Ntshuks Bonga. He plays in duos with saxophonist Rachel Musson; pianist Robert Mitchell; percussionists Martin Pyne and Walt Shaw; and the multi-instrumentalist Orphy Robinson. [...]

Mwamba was granted an AHRC studentship for a Master of Research degree in Music at Keele University, for which he was awarded a distinction in 2014. Through this research, he developed new dark art, which is a notational and theoretical music system that takes early European medieval music practice as a starting point to create modern music. He is currently undertaking doctoral research in Jazz Studies at Birmingham City University on a Midlands3Cities/AHRC studentship."

-Corey Mwamba Website (http://www.coreymwamba.co.uk/who/)
11/29/2024

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"Dave Sturt began playing bass guitar and recording at the age of 17. In 1982 he moved to London and soon broke into the session scene working alongside film composer Michael Kamen, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, Roxy Music drummer Andy Newmark, and David Bowie sideman Earl Slick amongst others. In 1987 Sturt joined Jade Warrior, recording two albums as bass player, composer and co-producer alongside Tom Newman (Tubular Bells). He went on to compose themes and incidental music for film and television as well as playing sessions for Pol Brennan (Clannad), BeatsystemUK and Theo Travis. Live work developed with Cuban/American guitarist Isaac Guillory, Thee na Shee, The Fraser Sisters, Andy Sheppard, Bosco D'Olivera and Bill Nelson. Sturt's current main projects are Cipher (with Theo Travis), producing three albums and several scores to silent films, and Jade Warrior, who released their album, NOW in 2008 on the WindWeaver record label.

During 2009 and 2010, Dave toured Europe playing bass for both Gong and Steve Hillage. In 2011 he played bass with Bill Nelson on the Classic Rock Legends live DVD.

In 2012 Dave composed soundtracks for 'Ben Rushgrove - a documentary' for Channel 4 and for 'Past Lives' - (along with Theo Travis) - a touring live performance with archive footage from The Media Archive for Central England. He also toured Europe, the UK and Japan with Gong

2013 saw Gong playing in Sao Paulo, where the recording of the new album began - which continued throughout the year. Also the Past Lives Project started - a two year film and music project funded by the Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

Gong performed again in Brazil in March 2014 - with Kavus Torabi on guitar - and the album 'I See You' was completed in July. Apart from playing the bass, Dave also co- composed several of the tracks, contributed soundscapes and co - produced the album. Also the album Discretion by Theo Travis and Robert Fripp was released - mixed by Dave and Steven Wilson and mastered by Andy Jackson."

-Dave Sturt Website (https://www.davesturt.co.uk/bio/)
11/29/2024

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"Since graduating from the City of Leeds College of Music with Distinction in Drums and Percussion, Peter Fairclough has performed and/or recorded with Keith Tippett, Paul Dunmall, Ute Lemper, Huw Warren, Peter Whyman, Steve Berry, John Harle, Kenny Davern, Peter King, The Matrix Ensemble, The Bournemouth Sinfonietta, The Mike Westbrook Orchestra and The Theatre Royal Company (York).

He has 5 CDs to his own credit:

IMAGO (Jazzprint JPVP132)CD - with Keith Tippett), Wild Silk (ASC CD8 - with Keith Tippett), Permission (ASC CD18) and Shepherd Wheel (ASC CD1). The most recent release is Momentarily with Hayley Youell, Fred T Baker & Dave Bainbridge.

In 1995 he was awarded the Peter Whittingham Award and he has toured extensively abroad, appearing at many top jazz festivals.

Peter teaches Drum Kit at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and Leeds College of Music."

-Jazz CDs (http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_60/biography_id_60)
11/29/2024

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Ben Higham is a UK brass player & vocalist, known for his work with the bands The Vu!gar Boatmen, The Happy End, Inner State, Monk Inc., Martin Archer's Anthropology Band, and The People Band.

-Squidco 11/29/2024

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"Mick Somerset aka Michael Ronald Ward is signed as a writer to BMG Chrysalis Music. I also play all woodwinds and keyboards / percussion and vocals. He has written over 20 top twenty singles and contributed to many hit albums. He played piccolo on the number one hit "Everything Changes" by Take That which he also wrote, and he made two albums in the US with hit producer Don Was. He is also an improviser, performing on Selmer V1 saxes nino/s/a/t/b. King Super 20 tenor and King saxello . Uebel flute, Kuiper altoflute Kingma bassflute. Selmer bassclt/ Selmer Bb/ Patricola Eb."

-Theo Wanne, Discogs (http://endorsers.theowanne.com/Michael-Ward)
11/29/2024

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Nathan Bettany is a UK oboist, known for the bands Juxtavoices, The Cambridge Free Improvisation Society, and Martin Archer's Anthropology Band.

-Squidco 11/29/2024

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"James Mainwaring grew up in Swansea and at the age of 9 he began learning the clarinet. Demonstrating an early natural ability he passed his grade 8 aged 12. On leaving school he entered the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and 2 years later he transfered to the Royal Academy of Music.

During his studies there he took up the Saxophone and Flute and was a founder member of the award winning "Moriarty Saxophone Quartet". Whilst studying, James began to establish his freelance career working for TV, Radio and with various orchestras.

1994 saw a move to Germany to play in many "Musical" productions including "Phantom Of The Opera" and "Beauty And The Beast". In 1999 he returned to the UK to tour in various musical productions. Since 2003 James has played in the West End of London, performing in many shows such as "The Producers", "Billy Elliot", "Wicked", "Matilda", "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" whilst also continuing to be in demand as a freelance player in various musical genres.

For his own personal development James continues to study a variety of musical instruments and styles."

-James Mainwaring Website (http://www.jamesmainwaring.co.uk/biography/)
11/29/2024

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"Hannah Brady is a musician, educator, and composer who has worked both privately and in schools, acquiring many years of experience. As a peripatetic music teacher, Hannah taught whole class vocal and instrumental sessions. This led her to develop In the Gap! as an easy and accessible resource for teachers to incorporate improvisation into their lessons. Hannah believes that improvisation and creativity are wonderful ways to engage children and develop fundamental musical skills and confidence.

Hannah is also a performing musician, having studied jazz saxophone at Birmingham Conservatoire. She runs a weekly improvisation workshop for Sheffield Jazz and is a key member of "Jazz at The Lescar", a not-for-profit organization bringing artists from all over the country to perform in the city."

-Improv in the Gap (https://www.improvinthegap.com/biography)
11/29/2024

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"UK-based Irishman Riley Stone-Lonergan started working as a professional musician in Ireland at the age of 16. Riley soon moved to the UK to study at Leeds College of Music. In 2011, he graduated with 1st Class Honours and was the recipient of a number of awards including the Dave Cooper Memorial Prize for Jazz Saxophone, John Scheerer Prize for Woodwind and David Hoult Prize for Outstanding Performance.

Selected as a Yamaha Jazz Scholar in 2011, Riley's quartet was featured in Jazzwise Magazine as well as performing at the 606 Club in London. Shortly after, Riley moved to London and began to work with various London groups. He was able to do a tour of Germany, a televised performance with NYJO at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms (including special guest Tim Garland) and was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the London Music Awards 2015.

In recent years, Riley has made three extended trips to New York City. Here, he studied with Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek, Rich Perry and Joel Frahm and recorded his original material at Tedesco Studios, as well as performing in Washington DC.

In the last few years Riley has been a part of two co-lead projects who have both self-released an album and toured extensively:

Perpetual Motion Machine is a rock and metal inspired twin guitar and twin saxophone sextet made up of Jazz musicians who want to explore sonic realms outside Jazz while still preserving its improvisatory nature. The music is entirely written by the members of the band. PMM recorded their debut Iginition in 2017 and followed this up with a 15 date tour of every corner of the UK.

Family Band is a chordless trumpet and tenor quartet brought together by a love for late 60's free Jazz in the vein of Ornette Coleman, Dewey Redman, Don Cherry and John Coltrane, but their music has evolved into its own beast, with spoken word and political themes woven in. They self-released Board of Origin in 2018 and embarked on a month long UK tour.

Riley also leads his own quartet and gigs regularly in London, throughout the UK and Europe. He performed.as a featured soloist at Bergamo Jazz Festival in Italy and has toured throughout Ireland, Germany, Poland and Ischia, an island off the coast of Italy, as well as all the most prestigious festivals in the UK including Manchester Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival. In March 2019 Riley did a week long tour of France under his name with French pianist Fabrice Tarel. This was such a success that he is going again in August for more concerts and to record a video, and in October for a further week-long tour. They are planning to record the project in the near future.

Riley's primary focus as a music creator is improvisation, the element of Jazz that brings him the most joy. Riley's entire life and career is driven by the desire to both improvise and hear other people improvise, it is the highest level of creativity and artistic expression."

-Riley Stone-Lonergan Website (https://rileystonelonergan.wordpress.com/about/)
11/29/2024

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"Baritone saxophonist/composer Alicia Gardener-Trejo has been active on the jazz scene since 2007. Whilst at Birmingham Conservatoire, she studied with Iain Dixon, Mike Williams, Hans Koller and John Taylor. She played alongside Gary Smulyan and Norma Winstone in the Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra and in 2013, took the baritone chair in Arnie Somogyi's Mingus Big Band project.

As a sideman, Alicia performs regularly with Samantha Wright's Double Clarinet Quintet, Bostin Brass Band and plays baritone for Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. Her own ensembles include an 11-piece band 'Bobtail' and a chordless quintet.

Alicia's inspiration as a composer comes from jazz artists including Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, George Russell, Gunther Schuller, Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz, but also draws on influences from Igor Stravinsky, Bela Bartok and the music of Carl Stalling."

-Alicia Gardener-Trejo Website (https://www.agardenertrejomusic.com/aboutnews)
11/29/2024

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Track Listing:



CD1



1. Fiction Fraction 0:57

2. Give Me Back Some Truth 7:58

3. The Dancer And The Spark 3:16

4. Behind Another Sun 6:06

5. Room Of Boiling Teeth 1:09

6. Why So? 5:51

7. Concrete On Sunshine Steps 4:24

8. Snap Call / Back Wall 7:38

9. Common Cause 3:00

10. People Talking Blues 10:00

11. Charlotte's Dilemma 3:55

12. Friction Faction 3:58

13. Fire On 88th 8:22

14. Palace of Boiling Teeth 3:56

15. The Wrong Stuff 4 U 7:38

CD2



1. Version B: Fiction Fraction 0:58

2. Version B: Give Me Back Some Truth 7:59

3. Version B: The Dancer And The Spark 3:15

4. Version B: Behind Another Sun 6:05

5. Version B: Room Of Boiling Teeth 1:09

6. Version B: Why So? 5:51

7. Version B: Concrete On Sunshine Steps 4:24

8. Version B: Snap Call / Back Wall 7:36

9. Version B: Common Cause 3:02

10. Version B: People Talking Blues 10:00

11. Version B: Charlotte's Dilemma 5:41

12. Version B: Friction Faction 3:58

13. Version B: Fire On 88th 8:22

14. Version B: Palace Of Boiling Teeth 3:56

15. Version B: The Wrong Stuff 4 U 7:16

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Large Ensembles
Septet recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Rock Forms
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions

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Ahmed (Thomas / Grip / Gerbal / Wright)
Wood Blues [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Astral Spirits)
A rollicking album of hard blues from the أحمد [Ahmed] quartet of Pat Thomas on piano, Joel Grip on double bass, Antonin Gerbal on drums and Seymour Wright on alto saxophone, performing live in 2022 as part of the Counterflows Festival at The Glue Factory in Glasgow, for a hard driving, upbeat performance in front of an enthusiastic audience.
Thomas, Pat / Dominic Lash / Tony Orrell
BleySchool: Where?
(577 Records)
The followup to their 2020 album titled BleySchool, the trio of Pat Thomas on piano, Dominic Lash on double bass and Tony Orrell on drums revisit and further explore the music of Paul and Carla Bley, here in a 2022 live performance at London's Cafe OTO focused on early Bley compositions, and also a cover of "Monk's Mood" which Bley included on his solo album Basics.
[ism] (Pat Thomas / Joel Grip / Aontonin Gerbal)
Maua [VINYL]
(577 Records)
Recordings from the Berlin club Au Topsi Pohl where the [ism] piano trio of Pat Thomas on piano, Joel Grip on double bass and Antonin Gerbal on drums played 4 nights in a row, May 18-21, 2022, Thomas performing on a Bösendorfer grand piano, creating an omnipresent and precise sound that drove the band to great heights of interactive, warmly diverse playing.
Eclectic Maybe Band
Bars Without Measures
(Discus)
Creating structured works from real time improvisations, Guy Seger's (Univers Zero) large ensemble of absolutely impressive players breaks down to smaller grouping to record the layers of each piece, which Seger then uses as raw material for each finished piece, as elements of rock, jazz, composed, and experimental forms merge into accomplished and engaging compositions.
[ism] (Pat Thomas / Joel Grip / Aontonin Gerbal)
Maua
(577 Records)
Recordings from the Berlin club Au Topsi Pohl where the [ism] piano trio of Pat Thomas on piano, Joel Grip on double bass and Antonin Gerbal on drums played 4-nights in a row, May 18-21, 2022, Thomas performing on a Bösendorfer grand piano, creating an omnipresent and precise sound that drove the band to great heights of interactive, warmly diverse playing.
Das Rad
Veer
(Discus)
Adding bassist Jon Short to their lineup, the 4th album from Das Rad continues the band's genre-merging approach of rock & improv forms rooted in prog, kosmiche, and jazz rock, this post-pandemic album bringing the band back together for live interaction, their enthusiasm evident in their energetic intercourse, particularly in the extended suite "Expergefactor".
Anthropology Band
Scald - Live 2022 [3 CDS]
(Discus)
Recording at London's Cafe OTO, and at the 2022 Newcastle Festival Of Jazz And Improvised Music, saxophonist and composer Martin Archer's exceptional 8-piece line up of his exuberant avant-electric jazz band blurring lines between 70's Miles and AACM abstractions, is heard across three CDs of fiery soloing, contemplative transitions, and spectacular group interplay.
Butcher, John / Pat Thomas / Dominic Lash / Steve Noble
Fathom [COLORED VINYL]
(577 Records)
The debut for UK saxophonist John Butcher on 577 Records is this exemplary 2021 live recording at Cafe OTO in London by the quartet of Butcher on tenor and soprano saxophones, Pat Thomas on piano, Dominic Lash on double bass and Steve Noble on drums, four of the UK's leading free improvisers demonstrating their prodigious abilities in concentrated conversation.
Butcher, John / Pat Thomas / Dominic Lash / Steve Noble
Fathom
(577 Records)
The debut for UK saxophonist John Butcher on 577 Records is this exemplary 2021 live recording at Cafe OTO in London by the quartet of Butcher on tenor and soprano saxophones, Pat Thomas on piano, Dominic Lash on double bass and Steve Noble on drums, four of the UK's leading free improvisers demonstrating their prodigious abilities in concentrated conversation.
Dunmall, Paul Ensemble
It's A Matter Of Fact
(Discus)
Following his previous Discus release Yes Tomorrow, UK saxophonist and composer Paul Dunmall expands his quintet to a septet with legendary vocalist Julie Tippetts and trumpeter Charlotte Keefe joining the exemplary ensemble of Martin Archer on sax, Richard Foote on trombone, Steven Saunders on electric guitar, James Owston on double bass and Jim Bashford on drums.
Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere
Theta Six
(Discus)
Referencing the "laminal" style of AMM improvisations, the 6th album from the UK-based Orchesta of the Upper Atmosphere ensemble, led by multi-instrumentalist and woodwind player Martin Archer and Jan Todd, evolved from studio sessions of bass rhythms, free improvisation over those foundations, and then horn & voice arrangements shaped around the results, creating a superb hybrid of jazz rock, textural and free improv.
Dikeman, John / Pat Thomas / John Edwards / Steve Noble
Volume 1 [VINYL]
(577 Records)
The first of two planned volumes from the quartet of John Dikeman on tenor saxophone, Pat Thomas on piano, John Edwards on bass and Steve Noble on drums, bringing the American saxophonist working throughout Europe together with this nearly telepathic collaborative grouping of UK frequent collaborators, captured in concert at Cafe OTO in 2019 for two absorbing improvisations.
Thomas, Pat / Chris Sharkey / Luke Reddin-Williams
Know : Delirium Atom Paths [VINYL]
(577 Records)
Energetic, authoritative and unpredictable, this 2020 concert at Hyde Park Book club, in Leeds, UK from the collective free improv trio of Pat Thomas on keyboards, Chris Sharkey on electric guitar and Luke Reddin on Williams on drums, burns through an extended and far-ranging set of sonic environments and seriously exhilarating straight-on playing.
Archer, Martin (w/ John Jasnoch / Sarah Farmer / Lee Boyd Allatson)
Wasp Honey
(Discus)
After participating in the Birmingham Improvisors Orchestra, wind improviser Martin Archer, bass guitarist John Jasnoch and violin & electronic musician Sarah Farmer were joined in the studio by drummer Lee Boyd Allatson to record this mix of compositions, graphic scores and free improv, merging AACM-style free jazz with contemporary chamber-oriented improv.
Freed, Moss / Union Division
Micromotives [2 CDs]
(Discus)
Seeking new methods of performing real-time collective composition through improvisation, composer & guitarist Moss Freed developed a language of hand signals that could be used among a large ensemble with instructions to guide players towards particular activities, heard in this spectacular set of seven improvisations, each named for an iconic improviser or composer.
Dikeman, John / Pat Thomas / John Edwards / Steve Noble
Volume 2 [VINYL]
(577 Records)
The second of two volumes from the quartet of John Dikeman on tenor saxophone, Pat Thomas on piano, John Edwards on bass and Steve Noble on drums, bringing the American saxophonist working throughout Europe together with this nearly telepathic collaborative grouping of UK frequent collaborators, captured in concert at Cafe OTO in 2019 for two absorbing improvisations.
Minton, Phil / Pat Thomas / Dave Tucker / Roger Turner
Scatter: On A Clear Day Like This
(577 Records)
Formed in 1992 by UK keyboardist Pat Thomas, originally with the intention of exploring the energy of rock forms within non-idiomatic ea improv, this 2017 album with Dave Tucker on acoustic & electric guitars, Roger Turner on drums & percussion and Phil Minton on voice, was captured live at Cafe OTO in London for two extended, sometimes perplexing, but consistently amazing improvisations.
Tippetts, Julie / Martin Archer
Illusion [2 CDs]
(Discus)
Their first album after a 6-year break, the collaboration of vocalist Julie Tippetts and multi-reedist & electronic artist Martin Archer is heard in two distinct presentations: a large and stunningly complex suite with an ensemble of acoustic and electronic artists; and a sequence of 13 separate and contrasting songs, performed by various small groups drawn from the JTMA Ensemble.
Ward, Alex Item 4
Furthered
(577 Records)
An assertive album of compositional jazz from clarinetist & guitarist Alex Ward's Item 4 with London improvisers Charlotte Keeffe on trumpet & flugelhorn, Otto Willberg on double bass and Andrew Lisle on drums, a dynamic album that elicits exciting solos from all players around unusual structures that surprise in quick turns and changes of mood; inspiring!
Lash, Dominic / Pat Thomas
New Oxford Brevity
(Spoonhunt)
After twenty years of collaboration including bands BleySchool, The Locals and Valid Tractor, this is surprisingly the first duo recording between British improvisers, pianist Pat Thomas and Dominic Lash, the latter more typically on double bass but here on electric guitar, and Thomas on the grand piano at St. Anne's College in Oxford, as the two improvise six fascinating dialogs.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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