Jesse Bannister's 'Play Out' To Tour This Autumn

UK’s leading classical Indian/Indo jazz Saxophonist Jesse Bannister will be touring his new quartet across the UK this autumn. Featuring MOBO award winning pianist Zoe Rahman, highly acclaimed drummer Eddie Hick (Gilad Atzmon), groove infused lines of highly original and talented  bassist Kenny Higgins (Corrinne Bailey Rae), this powerful line up promises to deliver a challenging and uplifting performance and features tracks from Jesse’s long awaited new album “Play Out”. The record is a fantastic testament to Jesse's strength both as a performer and composer, as well as a stunning realization of his vision of tastefully fusing contemporary jazz with Indian classical.

Many British jazz musicians, including Andy Sheppard and the aforementioned Zoe Rahman have incorporated elements of Indian music into their playing and composing, but few have equaled Jesse Bannister in the years of committed study he has given to Indian classical, and the skill and taste with which he combines it with other influences to make it his own

 Jesse said the following in an interview with Sebastian Scotney, of the fantastic London Jazz News:

"Improvising and playing Indian material on a western instrument creates a new kind of listening. The jazz crowd are ready for this new level of intricacy and have a very open listening for Indian influences. For some this is a brand new concept in the approach to music. It’s a a pleasure to play for new audiences with an open ear and an inquiring mind......When you’re creating (through improvisation) something people haven’t seen before  and it is happening right there before them  this creates a real buzz for the audience"

The tour dates are as follows:

17 Oct Wakefield Jazz 8pm http://www.wakefieldjazz.org/

19 Oct Whitby Music Port 3pm http://www.musicportfestival.com/

6 November Leeds Seven Arts http://www.sevenjazz.co.uk/

14 November Nottingham New Art exchange 7.30pm http://www.nae.org.uk/

          19 November London Jazz Pizza Express Dean Street

22 November Maidstone Pizza Express

28 Nov Harrow Arts Centre http://www.harrowarts.com/

11 Dec Norwich Arts Centre http://norwichartscentre.co.uk/