Live Theatre is the place to catch the most vibrant bands from from the Northern jazz scene. Jazz North, the new northern jazz development agency, presents four jazz artists from their northern line rostra. An opportunity to listen to four very different examples of contemporary UK jazz on one evening;
-Space F!ght
-HSQ
-Shatner's Bassoon
-Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra
About the bands
Space F!ght
Tom Adams (guitar)
James Mainwaring (sax)
Radek Rudnicki (electronics and devices)
Kuba Hader (digital video projections)
Space F!ght explores communication between acoustic (sax) and electronic (electric guitar, drum machine, groove box) instruments. Acoustic sounds are processed live with analogue and digital effects that emphasize performers’ idiosyncrasies. Loop based, carefully designed to micro level grooves are driving the performance. The density of the tracks places them on the edge of commercial, contemporary and noise music. At the same time, the arrangements do not fall into any of the mainstream genres as they avoid typical structures and loops. Aesthetics in its style reminiscences maximal, techno, dub and jazz. Pieces range from atmospheric, laid back almost lounge tracks to heavy beat based, maximal and mass of noise.
HSQ
Jim Collins (Alto and Bari Sax, Flute)
Will Lenton (Tenor and Bass Sax)
Helen Pillinger (Alto and Tenor Sax)
Helena Summerfield (Bari and Soprano Sax)
Four strong and experienced sax players, each with a distinctive voice and style have worked together for 5 years. Playing classic and contemporary jazz arrangements and writing their own specifically for the group. Over this time we have succeeded in blending different tonal qualities to create a special sound. Playing tunes with unusual combinations of instruments: bass, bari and 2 tenors! Composing material for the group has been a natural development. We can swing hard, but we're not embarrassed by our rich European musical traditions. Key influences from British roots music and classical music can be heard in our compostions. As jazz improvisers each member of the group brings very different styles to the table, but having worked together for so long, the music meshes with subtlety and depth.
Shatner's Bassoon
Johnny Richards (Keyboards)
Mick Bardon (Bass and electronics)
Ollie Dover (Tenor sax)
Craig Scott (Guitar and electronics)
Joost Hendrickx (Drums)
Andrew Lisle (Drums)
Shatner’s Bassoon sound like nothing you have ever heard before! Part of the same experimental Leeds music scene as Trio VD, Roller Trio and Matthew Bourne they are a group of six Leeds based composers/improvisers who came together in 2010 and simply have to be heard to be believed! They make that music ranges from dense free noise through intense riffs and ambient textures. They deliberately play with musical clichés and conventions to produce music that negotiates a path from the darkly beautiful to the throbbingly sinister, humorous and surreal. Influenced by contemporary artists such as Tim Berne, Mr. Bungle, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Tyshawn Sorey and a broad range of rock and electronica; and with a combined experience that includes eastern European folk, Hindustani music, Brazilian music, straight ahead and free jazz, reggae, metal, contemporary classical and musique concrete; Shatner’s Bassoon have developed a unique collective sound based on developing complex compositional structures through improvisation – in turn allowing the music to be naturally infused by their experiences. Central to the band’s process is a constant evolution of their approach to making music together. Joost Hendrickx joined the band to play drums alongside founding member Andrew Lisle. This has further expanded the sound of Shatner’s Bassoon to encompass the unique duality in rhythmic construct that this line-up can provide.
Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra
Pete Williams - Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet
Leon Johnson - Tenor Sax
Si Nixon - Trumpet
Martyn Strange - Baritone Sax
Taz Modi - Keyboards
Neil Innes - Guitar
Paul Baxter - Bass
Joost Hendrickx - Drums
Kris Wright - Percussion
Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra were conceived at a series of largely improvised gigs that drew on Fela Kuti, Sun Ra, James Brown & Albert Ayler for inspiration. After expanding the line-up and refining our sound, we were signed to First Word Records in 2009 and began recording our debut album. This was released in November of 2010 and garnered strong support from Craig Charles (BBC6 music) & Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2) amongst others. We released our 2nd album “Towards Other Worlds” in December of this year and have so far had airplay on the shows of BBC6 Music Djs Craig Charles, Huey Morgan & Gilles Peterso.
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