New efpi release: Friendly Ghosts by Adam Fairhall

Manchester based label efpi have announced their latest release, a solo album by Adam Fairhall.

Friendly Ghosts was officially released on August 11th and is Adam's first solo offering. The material was recorded during two concerts as part of Jazz North's Northern Line scheme in Newcastle and Manchester.

A little information about Adam Fairhall -

Over the past decade, Adam Fairhall has forged an international reputation as a jazz pianist and improviser of exceptional versatility. Named as a nod to the ever-present influence of long-gone pianists on his playing, Friendly Ghosts represents Adam’s recorded debut as a solo pianist and continues the synthesis of styles that has long been a feature of his work. 

The album is available to purchase on bandcamp; the physical CD is priced at £11 but those who pay above that also receive an efpi neon badge. There is also the option to download the album at a cost of £7.

To find out more, visit Adam Fairhall's website.

Johnny Hunter Quartet Tour, March 25th-31st

“The band admirably reflects the independent creativity of the new Manchester scene.” – John Fordham, The Guardian

Drummer Johnny Hunter's quartet made the most of 2016; as well as their normal schedule of gigs ,they also found the time to release their debut album, While We Still Can, on EFPI Records and they were selected to be part of Jazz North's Northern Line scheme.

Starting on Saturday, the group will play a string of dates including Huddersfield, Scarborough, Liverpool and Manchester so there's ample opportunity to catch these exciting musicians live.

From the FB event page...

Johnny Hunter (Blind Monk Trio, Dub Jazz Soundsystem, Nat Birchall Quintet, Marley Chingus) is a drummer, composer and band-leader who performs across the country in many different ensembles. In 2011, he brought together some of the top players from a thriving Manchester scene that is fast becoming UK Jazz’s new centre of gravity; Ben Watte on tenor saxophone, Graham South on trumpet, and Stewart Wilson on double bass. 2016 saw the release of his critically-acclaimed debut album ‘While We Still Can’ on the EFPI label, which also houses all-conquering big band, Beats & Pieces.

Hunter’s music explores the possibilities and challenges afforded by the absence of a harmony instrument, and takes influence from his long-standing interest in the piano-less groups of Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson, through to the more modern ensembles of Dave Douglas, John Zorn and Chris Speed.

Ben Watte – Tenor sax
Graham South – Trumpet
Stewart Wilson – Double Bass
Johnny Hunter – Drums

“Connects authentically with jazz tradition, whilst developing its own voice through original composition – a fabulous advertisement for British jazz.” – Adrian Pallant, London Jazz News

25.03 The Jazz Room HUDDERSFIELD, 8pm
28.03 Kazimier Gardens LIVERPOOL, 7.30pm
29.03 The Cask Inn SCARBOROUGH, 8.45pm
30.03 Matt & Phred's MANCHESTER, 9pm

Efpi Festival in London, June 25th

Manchester record label Efpi will run an evening of music at King's Place in London on June 25th, showcasing three of the ensembles they represent.

The evening will celebrate two of the latest releases on the label - Johnny Hunter Quartet's While We Still Can (which will be officially launched at the event) and Let Spin's Let Go. Joining these two ensembles, award-winning Beats & Pieces will round off the event.

From the King's Place website -

A big band for modern times’, Beats & Pieces regularly perform across the UK and Europe to consistent audience and critical acclaim. The release last year of their second album All In reaffirmed their reputation as one of the most original large ensembles around, and anyone who has experienced one of their gigs before will attest to their high-energy live show.

Let Spin brings together members of Beats & Pieces, Melt Yourself Down and Led Bib, and is a band brimming with confidence, effortlessly switching between thrashy punk, wistful reflection and complex yet engaging improvisation.

Drummer and composer Johnny Hunter’s quartet explores the freedoms and challenges presented by the absence of a harmony instrument, drawing on the piano-less groups of Sonny Rollins, Dave Douglas and Jim Black amongst others.

Tickets for the event cost £19.50 and can be bought from the King's Place website.

Fusebox Mini-Festival ft. Beats and Pieces, Metamorphic and Royst

The Wardrobe in Leeds is hosting a Fusebox mini-festival tonight and tickets are going fast so be quick if you want to attend!

Fusebox and Efpi are delighted to present a one night mini festival featuring Manchester’s Beats & Pieces Big Band and a collaboration between Metamorphic (led by Leeds pianist/composer Laura Cole) and Norwegian vocal trio Røyst.

With the release earlier this year of their second album All In, Beats & Pieces have firmly established themselves as one of the leading ensembles of its kind in Europe. Led by Ben Cottrell and bringing together 14 incredibly creative musicians, their energetic performances are influenced as much by Michael Jackson, Björk or Radiohead as by Duke Ellington, Gil Evans or Loose Tubes.

Metamorphic and Røyst Trio will debut brand new material developed especially for this collaborative tour, fusing elements from contemporary jazz, folk and world music in song-based compositions that challenge the traditional role of the singing voice. Both Metamorphic and Røyst will also present music from their own critically acclaimed albums alongside the joint material.

Tickets cost £12 on the door.


Click these links for more information about the bands perfoming and the organisations hosting the event -



www.beatsnpieces.net
www.metamorphic.org.uk
www.roystrio.com

www.fuseboxleeds.org.uk
www.efpirecords.com