Thursday, 4 October 2012

The Owl Ensemble takes off


One of the UK’s most exciting and innovative musical groups will soon be flying across to Yorkshire as part of their new tour this October. The Owl Ensemble is a seven-piece led by Manchester based violinist Olivia Moore that brings together a string quartet with a jazz trio to create a unique live experience. The Owl Ensemble blend together performers with pop, dance and hip-hop backgrounds to create rhythmic patterns and melodies that subvert and reinvent traditional classical sounds.

Friday 5 October, Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG
Wednesday 10 October,  The Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square, Leeds LS9 8AH


Formed in 2008 the group have gone on to perform at the prestigious London Jazz Festival and play sold out gigs at the Manchester and Marsden jazz festivals.  They also performed with former Beautiful South singer Paul Heaton for the world premiere of ‘The 8th’ at the Manchester International Festival in 2011.

The band will be performing tracks from their latest album ‘Owl’ which was released last year to good reviews and received airplay on Jazz FM and Radio 3.

Olivia Moore, co-founder and leader of The Owl Ensemble, said:
“We had a great time last year at the Marsden Jazz Festival last year and we’re really looking forward to heading back over the Pennines.

The Square Arts Centre and The Wardrobe are two great venues for live music and we can’t wait to play to some new audiences.”

The performances part of the Wisdom Tour which also visits venues across Greater Manchester and Merseyside in October.

Friday 5 October, 8pm
The Owl Ensemble
Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Square Road, Halifax HX1 1QG
Tickets £12, £10 conc
www.oliviolin.com / www.squarechapel.co.uk
www.seetickets.com

Wednesday 10 October, 10pm
The Owl Ensemble
The Wardrobe, St Peter’s Square, Leeds LS9 8AH
Tickets £8
www.oliviolin.com / www.thewardrobe.co.uk
www.seetickets.com


REVIEWS FOR THE OWL ENSEMBLE

Mike Butler (Manchester Evening News) “This is music of great clarity and space. Sweet rather than severe The Owl Ensemble transcend from the tasteful to the sublime.

Julian Joseph (Radio 3) “Olivia combines a string quartet with a basic jazz band and she combines these elements really effectively and very musically. It’s a strong, solid, musical conception... going for interesting and eclectic I would say it’s job done. “

Olivia Moore is the band leader and inspiration behind the Owl Ensemble. A classically trained violinist & established improviser, Olivia and her band have toured widely including the prestigious Manchester, Marsden and London jazz festivals.

Myke Wilson is a legendary, energetic and exciting drummer who plays a mixture of groove based Jazz and hip-hop. He has toured and recorded with Mike Walker, The Dust Junkies, Lamb, 808 State, Texas and Swing Out Sister.

Naomi Koop brings classical training to gypsy, jazz and swing bands. She’s played on pop recordings, TV and in venues from the Royal Albert Hall to Ronnie Scotts.

Katherine Barnecutt plays the viola in ensembles and orchestras throughout the UK. Katherine currently lives in Dublin and is a member of The RTE concert orchestra.

Semay Wu is the cellist and one half of duo Mayming. Semay’s music spans
from classical to club and she has recorded and performed with artists including
Jean Toussaint, Toolshed, NinjaTunes, Homelife and The Earlies.

David Muñoz is a great ensemble piano player and has supported international artists such as Tito Puente, Eliades Ochoa and Omar Puente.

Grant Russell is an established bass player who has worked with GoGo Penguin and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
The Owl Ensemble Wisdom Tour October 2012
  Thursday 4 October, 7.30pm:  Manchester – Anthony Burgess Foundation
  Friday 5 October, 8pm: Halifax – Square Chapel Centre
  Saturday 6 October, 10pm: Manchester – Matt and Phreds
  Tuesday 9 October, 8.30pm: Liverpool – Parr Jazz
  Wednesday 10 October, 7.30pm: Leeds – The Wardrobe
  Friday 12 October, 7.30pm: Oldham – Gallery Oldham

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