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.

New from Discus - See One, Do One, Teach One

Martin Archer's label Discus Music released their 64th album on August 1st as the third in a series of quartet releases featuring new combinations of musicians from the Discus family.

Deep Tide Quartet features Martin Archer on tenor sax, Kim Macari on trumpet, Laura Cole on piano and Walt Shaw on percussion & live electronics.

Open ended jazz playing with no stylistic limits – written scores, graphic scores, improvisation – improvisation which is inclusive of melody and structure – whatever we feel like playing – plenty of space for the music to develop its direction – concentrated and careful listening - ultimately rooted in, and building on the tradition of, pure jazz skill no matter where the music takes us.

Though originally conceived as a recording project, the band quickly decided to work together and take the band out live. Their debut was at The Verdict in Brighton in July and dates are confirmed in Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and Bristol in the coming months. 

For more information and to listen to/buy the album, visit the Discus Music website.

Two new releases from New Jazz Records

It's been a busy time for Leeds-based record label New Jazz Records. Run by composer and trumpeter James Hamilton, the label recently released Jamil Sheriff's debut trio albums Places Like This. Now, they are gearing up to launch two more albums at a special launch gig at HEART in Headingley on December 6th.

March is the second album double bassist Sam Jackson has released on the label. His group Drawing Hands have released a suite of 12 new pieces and will perform some of this new material at the gig.

Treppenwitz is a trio formed by pianist Matt Aplin, double bassist Tom Riviere and drummer Steve Hanley. Their album, Short and Long Ditties, is the first in a two part release of material recorded at Leeds Fold last year.

The albums will both be launched with live performances at HEART on December 6th. Doors at 7.30 and there's music from 8pm. Tickets are an absolute steal at £5/3 for two great bands.

To find out about these releases and to keep up to date with future releases from the label, visit the New Jazz Records website.

Upcoming Releases and a gig from Discus Music

The indefatigable Martin Archer has announced the two newest releases from his record label, Discus Music as well as a gig later in the month.

Readers of this blog will remember that we recently published an article about a crowdfunding campaign Discus will running to support the Keith Tippett Octet's new album. Well, the campaign was a success and the Nine Dances of Patrick O'Gonogon will be the 56^th release on the label. This can be listened to and ordered on the website.

Following that, release 57 will be an ambitious double album from a new project, Story Tellers. With Martin himself on woodwinds and joined by Anton Hunter, Corey Mwamba, Pete Fairclough, Kim Macari and Mick Somerset Ward, Story Tellers will be released in July. A group of strong improvising voices coming together to form something huge...

And if you'd like to hear music like this live, Martin is putting on a gig on June 24^th at Bishop's House in Sheffield featuring two sets of music. DAS RAD is a trio of musicians from the Discus Music roster performing together for the first time – Martin on saxophone & electronics, Nick Robinson on guitar and electronics and Steve Dinsdale on drums and electronics. They are joined by Jez Creek aka Modulator ESP who will perform a solo set.

Information on all of this and more can be found on the Discus Music website. (www.discus-music.co.uk)

Kickstarter Campaign - Keith Tippett Octet on Discus

Martin Archer's label Discus Music have launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the release of Keith Tippett's newest album, The Nine Dances of Patrick O'Gonogon.

The 56th album to be released on the label features a new suite of music commissioned by Richard Wiltshire and was recorded at Real World Studios.

This new suite is based on themes from Irish folk music and was written for his new octet, which includes several recent graduates from the Royal Academy of Music’s jazz programme along with a long-time collaborator, the drummer Peter Fairclough, and the London-based Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta.

As the album has already been recorded, mixed and mastered, the kickstarter campaign is a way for listeners to purchase their copies in advance to enable Discus Music to distribute the album. The campaign lasts for another 29 days and has a target amount of £1,500.

Keith Tippett Octet are -

Fulvio Sigurta (trumpet/flugel)
Sam Mayne (alto)
James Gardiner-Bateman (alto & flute)
Kieran McLeod (trombone)
Robbie Harvey (trombone)
Tom McCredie (bass)
Pete Fairclough (drums)
Keith Tippett (piano/composition)
Julie Tippetts (voice)

For more information and to contribute to the campaign, visit the Kickstarter page.

Gogo Penguin Tour 2016

2016 is already shaping up to be a busy year for Manchester trio Gogo Penguin, with the release of their Blue Note debut Man Made Object and extensive touring in the UK and internationally.

The group have been invited to perform at Coachella Festival in California, as well as some NYC shows and they are scheduled to make their debut at the Blue Note in Tokyo - all of this before June!

Those closer to home will be able to see the band as they tour the UK in February with dates in Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Aberdeen and London amongst others. Following this, the band head to Europe for a further 20+ dates.

See below for their full tour dates and head to the Gogo Penguin website to find out more and pre-order the new album.

The Haggis Horns 'What Comes To Mind' UK Tour

The Haggis Horns have been a favourite of audiences and musicians alike for years. Mark Ronson called them the best horn section in the world and they feature on some of the top chart releases of recent years with groups like Amy Winehouse, Jamiroquai and Martha Reeves.

The band have been hard at work in the studio preparing for the release of their latest album, What Comes to Mind - their first in 5 years. They have just announced tour dates across the country to promote its release, starting with an album launch gig at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds on 25th september. Audiences are advised to book early for these live dates as they are guaranteed to sell out!

The Haggis Horns are: Malcolm Strachan (trumpet), Atholl Ransome (tenor), Rob Mitchell (bari), Dan Goldman (keyboards), Kenny Higgins (bass) and Luke Flowers (drums).

Tour Dates -
  
25th September - Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds
26th September - Band on the wall, Mancheter
2nd October - The Bongo Club, Edinburgh
3rd October - The Cluny, Newcastle
10th October - Brooklyn Bowl, London
30th October - The Musician, Leicester

For more details, visit The Haggis Horns website.

Polar Bear Announce New Album, Single and UK Dates

UK jazz luminaries Polar Bear are back with a new album Same As You and a UK tour. Despite its short gestation since the last record, the Mercury Prize shortlisted In Each And Every One, Same As You is a bold statement showing a strong vision for the band's future.

Wildflower Sextet Album Launch & Tour

Saxophonist Matt Anderson has announced the dates for his upcoming Wildflower Sextet tour and album launch in February 2015.

The group, led by Matt, features an all-star line-up including Laura Jurd, Sam Vicary, Sam Gardner, Alex Munk and Jamil Sheriff and takes inspiration from the work of the great Wayne Shorter. Original works by Matt sit alongside arrangements of classic and lesser known works by Shorter himself.

The group recorded their debut album with support from Jazz Services, Arts Council England and Leeds College of Music and the tour in February celebrates the release of the album on Jellymould Jazz.

There are three Northern dates included on the tour - JATP in Bradford, The Lescar in Sheffield and Leeds College of Music (which will also be the Leeds album launch date).

For more information, visit Matt Anderson's website and Jellymould Jazz.

Full Tour Dates below...

Album Review: Jesse Bannister's 'Play Out'

Jesse Bannister: Alto Saxophone, Zoe Rahman: Piano, Kenny Higgins: Bass Guitar, Seb Rochford: Drums

The incorporation of Indian music into jazz is something I am often skeptical of. Although it is certainly not a new phenomenon on the British scene, dating back to the 1960s work of the British avant-garde such as Jamaican born saxophonist Joe Harriott, in recent years I feel it has sometimes been too easy to add some odd time signatures and a tabla player to a record and call the music 'indo-jazz'.

This is not the case with 'Play Out', the new album from alto saxophonist Jesse Bannister. Jesse's deep understanding of and respect for the traditions of Indian classical music run deep through the album, and the music is delivered with such skill and taste that there is not the slightest hint of gimmickry to the indo-jazz fusion presented here. 'Play Out' makes it clear why Jesse has earned the reputation of being the UK's leading Indian/Indo-Jazz saxophonist.

Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere releases new album

Sheffield-based improvising group Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere are set to release a new double CD through Martin Archer's Discus label.

The group's first album garnered many positive reviews not only from the UK but internationally and the new double album is sure to make an impact yet again.

A sample of the new material can be found on the Discus website, where the album can also be pre-ordered.