Category Archives: drums

16th April: Sloth Racket & Alex Ward

A new project from half of LUME this week, as Cath brings a new ensemble she was invited to put together for Gateshead International Jazz Festival last weekend. They share the bill tonight with the excellent Alex Ward playing a solo set…

Alex Ward

Alex Ward is a highly-acclaimed composer, improviser, and performing musician. His involvement in freely improvised music dates back to 1986, when he met the guitarist Derek Bailey. As an improviser, he was initially principally a clarinettist (sometimes also playing alto sax), but since 2000 he has also been active as an improvising guitarist. On both instruments, his longest-standing collaborations in this field have been with the drummer Steve Noble. Much of his writing and performing has been done with Dead Days Beyond Help, a duo with drummer Jem Doulton. He also currently leads a number of bands including Predicate, Forebrace, The Alex Ward Quintet/Sextet, and Alex Ward & The Dead Ends.

Sloth Racket

For this new project, saxophonist/composer Cath Roberts assembles four of the most exciting improvisers on the UK scene. Tenor player Sam Andreae is known for his collaborations with Scandinavian musicians in the exceptional and critically-acclaimed Trio Riot and Silence Blossoms, as well as countless other projects including a recent sound art installation at Manchester’s Penthouse with David Birchall. Anton Hunter was recently commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival to write a new suite of music ‘Article 11’, in addition to leading his own trio, playing in Beats And Pieces Big Band and co-running experimental/jazz/improv label Efpi Records. Seth Bennett is a prolific bassist, leading his own trio Nut Club as well as playing in Martin Archer’s Engine Room Favourites, Laura Cole’s Metamorphic, and the Grew Quartet among many others. Johnny Hunter has recently toured the UK with his quartet and appears regularly in all kinds of settings, from Nat Birchall’s spiritual jazz group to dub reggae band Skamel. The group will play a new set of music by Cath, using it as a jumping-off point for freely improvised group explorations.

Sam Andreae – tenor sax
Cath Roberts – baritone sax
Anton Hunter – guitar
Seth Bennett – bass
Johnny Hunter – drums

9th April: KTHXBYE with Colin Webster & New World Order

This week we’re excited to welcome touring Norwegian improv duo KTHXBYE to LUME, with special guest Colin Webster. On the other side of the bill, a fiery London trio…

KTHXBYE

KTHXBYE [Ok. Thanks. Bye] is a norwegian duo coming out of the experimental music scene in Oslo. Their style is straight up free improv but manages to stay both dynamic and focused on form. They have joined forces with London based saxophonist and powerhouse Colin Webster for the last year adding even more layers to their music while not giving and inch to their original concept. Their debut album is due spring 2015.

Brage Tørmænen drums
Stian Larsen guitar

and:
Colin Webster baritone/tenor sax

New World Order

NWO (New World Order) consists of cracking open the unbroken egg of silence and frying it in a pan of squeals, pops, rattles and any other gorgeously undulating sounds they can produce.

Thomas Lumley saxophones
Andrew Lisle drums
Tom Wheatley bass.

12th March: Alex Bonney Quartet

This week we welcome back Alex Bonney to LUME, with his excellent quartet. The group plays Alex’s original compositions, influenced by 60s and 70s American and European free jazz and 20th century classical composition, with lots of space for melodic and textural improvisation and interaction. Featuring an exciting lineup of in-demand London and New York based musicians.

Alex Bonney – cornet, trumpet

James Allsopp – bass clarinet, clarinet

Olie Brice – double bass

Jeff Williams – drums

5th March: Backyard Chassis & Seth Bennett/Cath Roberts

This week’s gig is a meeting of improvising musicians from all around the UK. A new trio armed with a sonic kaleidoscope of unconventional instruments gets its second outing, and a duo plays for the first time, focussing on the lower end of the pitch spectrum…

Backyard Chassis

Backyard Chassis is a new trio comprising three extremely high calibre UK improvisers: Corey Mwamba, Johnny Hunter and Adam Fairhall. Their music ranges from busy energetic ‘blowing’ to delicate textures that recall non-Western musics.

Timbre and texture are very important to the trio. The keyboards used are mechanical instruments, with the Pianet being prepared using springs, clips and chains to produce a range of percussive sonorities. The toy piano, too, is prepared, using magnets and felt. Corey may bring anything to the gig, from a zither to a wooden flute, and use them all in a wonderfully creative way. The unusual instrumental sonorities provide a rich palette for improvising, and the instruments are really played; there’s no relying on timbre for timbre’s sake! Add to this mix Johnny’s lightning-quick reflexes, sensitivity and propulsive sound, and the result is highly distinctive music, not to be missed.

Corey Mwamba – vibraphone and miscellaneous instruments

Johnny Hunter – drums

Adam Fairhall – prepared Hohner Pianet T, prepared toy piano and Dulcitone.

Seth Bennett and Cath Roberts

A new collaboration, with double bass and baritone saxophone. Seth Bennett is a prolific bassist, leading his own trio Nut Club (who you may have heard at LUME last year) as well as playing in Martin Archer’s large ensemble Engine Room Favourites, Laura Cole’s Metamorphic, and the Grew Quartet among many others. Cath Roberts leads ‘dino-jazz, paleo-groove’ septet Quadraceratops and is half of Ripsaw Catfish with Anton Hunter, as well as being your LUME co-host. Seth and Cath first played together in Anton Hunter’s Manchester Jazz Festival commission ‘Article XI’ last year, where they were often found playing basslines together (although Seth was actually playing trombone on that gig). It seemed like a good idea to do a duo, so they are.

Seth Bennett – double bass

Cath Roberts – baritone saxophone

Join us at Long White Cloud: doors 8pm, music at 8.30/8.45pm as usual.

Double LUME week: small group improv at Long White Cloud and large jazz ensembles at the Vortex…

The two sides of LUME are combined in one double-gig week! Small groups of free improvisers will take the stage at Long White Cloud on Thursday 26th February, and we’ll be hosting some medium/large sized jazz ensembles at ‘LUME Presents…’ on 1st March.

26th February @ Long White Cloud: Alec Harper/Tom Wheatley/Andrew Lisle & Ti/om

An evening of improvisation from some of London’s top creative musicians…

Alec Harper/Tom Wheatley/Andrew Lisle

Harper, Wheatley and Lisle have been improvising together and also on the circuit for a few years in London, over the UK and throughout Europe and the U.S. This newly formed trio met through mutual friends on the London scene. The group play lengthy sweeping improvisations exploring sound worlds with abstract forms and textures. Strong rhythmic interactions are a key part of the trio’s identity.

Alec Harper tenor saxophone
Tom Wheatley bass
Andrew Lisle drums

Ti/om

Tom Ward and Tim Fairhall first met in about 2007 while studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and soon began meeting for duo sessions, exploring the dynamic and rapport between woodwinds and bass through free improvisation. There followed a hiatus of several years whilst they both pursued other musics, but the duo have recently reunited for a variety of musical activities including their infamous ‘Tour of North London’ in 2014.

Tom Ward bass clarinet, flute
Tim Fairhall double bass

with special guest the Swedish percussionist Matilda Rolfsson (bass drum, bells, gongs, bows, fingers, hands and brushes), who is spending a few months in the UK as part of her Masters course.

1st March @ ‘LUME Presents…’, Vortex Jazz Club: JJ Wheeler’s ‘Come Back Stronger’ & Ralph Wyld’s Mosaic

Two exciting medium/large sized jazz groups playing original music…

JJ Wheeler’s ‘Come Back Stronger’

JJ Wheeler’s Come Back Stronger is a 10-piece band formed to play the highly emotive suite, A Question of Hope. Written about the bandleader’s life-threatening battle with Cancer, the suite explores themes of desperation, anger, frustration and the search for hope through engaging, sometimes dark, sometimes light-hearted yet always sophisticated music. Weaving together influences from composers such as John Hollenbeck, Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler to Radiohead, The Invisible and Peter Gabriel, the group’s sound ebbs and flows seamlessly between driving grooves, epic soundscapes, delicate melodies and intricate rhythmic constructs.

Jess Berry vocals
Tom Dennis trumpet, flugelhorn
Tom Green trombone
Matthew Herd alto and soprano saxophones
Sam Rapley tenor saxophone
Rob Cope baritone saxophone, flute
Ralph Wyld vibraphone
Sam James keyboards
Misha Mullov-Abbado bass
JJ Wheeler drums

Ralph Wyld’s Mosaic

Featuring an array of young talent and a diversity of influences, Mosaic was created as a means of bringing together people, ideas and genres. The lineup provides vibes player/composer Wyld with a spectacular textural and timbral palette, from glistening, transparent treble to powerful, earth-shuddering bass. The unique character of each player is also highly valued, with improvisation taking a central role. Inspiration for the music includes Shostakovich, Copland and Piazzolla as well as Gil Evans, Vince Mendoza, Kenny Wheeler and Bill Frisell.

Ralph Wyld vibraphone
James Copus trumpet
Sam Rapley clarinets
Cecilia Bignall cello
Misha Mullov-Abbado bass
Scott Chapman drums/percussion

‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex: season 2!

As we tie up the last loose ends of our Spring programme at Long White Cloud, one thing we *can* tell you is that ‘LUME Presents…’ is back for a second season at the Vortex Jazz Club! Gigs kick off on Sunday 8th February, and we hope you agree the lineup looks pretty tasty…

Tickets will be on sale from the Vortex website very soon.

11th December: Andrew Oliver Quintet

This week, two sets from a new band featuring the compositions of new (ish) Londoner the pianist Andrew Oliver! We’ve checked out some of the music he made in the US, so we know we’re in store for a night of exciting original music. Come down and hear for yourself on Thursday…here’s the blurb:

American pianist and composer Andrew Oliver relocated to London from Portland, Oregon in 2013. Continuing his compositional explorations into groovy chamber-jazz for the 21st century, he presents a new London based quintet performing original music influenced by minimalism, Zimbabwean and west African traditions, trains, and the omnipresent shuffle of genres in the world today.

Andrew Oliver – piano
Dave Shulman – clarinet and bass clarinet
Ralph Wyld – vibes
Huw V Williams – bass
Pete Ibbetson – drums

4th December: Splatter & Martin Speake/Malcolm Earle-Smith

A double bill this week with a new duo of Martin Speake and Malcolm Earle-Smith, plus a set from improv quartet Splatter.

Splatter

Splatter play improvised music that is not quite many things. It isn’t quite jazz, it isn’t quite free jazz, it isn’t quite free improvisation, it isn’t quite avant rock or plain old rock, or folk music or contemporary music – it is all of these things, mixed together in the moment – sometimes in the same tune.

Time Out remarked that Splatter ‘feed shards of rock and black metal into their freeform jazz Soundscapes”. They have released three CD’s to date, the most recent being ‘Cloudseed’ which features a collaboration with Polish bass guitarist, Rafal Mazur.

Rachel Musson tenor sax

Noel Taylor clarinet

Pedro Velasco guitar

Ansuman Biswas drums

Martin Speake & Malcolm Earle-Smith

Citing Lee Konitz, Charlie Parker, Warne Marsh, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Ornette Coleman, Steve Coleman, Rabi Abou Khalil, and Paul Motian as major influences, Martin has developed a personal musical voice that expresses a deep understanding of the history and language of Jazz with individuality as an improviser that is intelligent, melodic, cool, complex, direct, beautiful and profound. Martin will be performing an improvised duo set with acclaimed trombonist Malcolm Earle-Smith.

27th November: Colin Webster/Alex Ward/Andrew Lisle

This week at Long White Cloud, we’re hosting the debut performance by a brand new improvising trio comprising Colin Webster (saxophones), Alex Ward (guitar), and Andrew Lisle (drums). The trio formed prompted by an offer of a free recording session – an offer too good to pass up! This first musical meeting led to the trio’s new album ‘Red Kite’, out this month on Raw Tonk Records.

All three members of the trio are prolific on the UK and European improvised music scene. Alex Ward is known for his early collaborations with Derek Bailey, his powerhouse trio N.E.W. with Steve Noble and John Edwards, and his composition/songwriting work with his sextet, and duo Dead Days Beyond Help respectively. Andrew Lisle has worked with a number of key London-based improvisors including Ward, Daniel Thompson, Seymour Wright, and plays in Roland Ramanan’s Tentet, and punk-improv band Shatner’s Bassoon. Colin Webster is known for his duos with drummer Mark Holub, and also turntablist Graham Dunning. He also performs regularly with Dutch free jazz/noise trio Dead Neanderthals.

Join us for a great night of music!

18th, 19th, 20th November: LUME @ London Jazz Festival

For this year’s London Jazz Festival we’re presenting a special three night series of our own current projects, featuring some of the UK’s most exciting improvising musicians aka the LUME usual suspects…

Tuesday 18th November: Ripsaw Catfish ‘Shoaling’

Ripsaw Catfish is Anton Hunter (guitar) and Cath Roberts (baritone saxophone). The Manchester and London-based duo formed in 2013 to explore improvised and composed music, and whatever lies between those things. They employ a collection of pre-composed elements which can be drawn upon, or not, during the course of an improvisation. Tonight they launch ‘Shoaling’, a UK tour with a collaborative focus, with support from Sound And Music. The duo will assemble ad hoc ensembles (‘shoals’) of improvising musicians at each location to play spontaneous sets of new music informed by, incorporating or ignoring the Ripsaw Catfish composed material. For this performance they are joined by improvising vibes player Corey Mwamba and his trio.

Anton Hunter guitar

Cath Roberts baritone sax

Corey Mwamba vibraphone, small instruments

Dave Kane bass

Joshua Blackmore drums

Wednesday 19th November: Deemer & duck-rabbit

The brain-child of Merijn Royaards and Dee Byrne, Deemer started life in 2006 as a weekly improvisation/electronics session in a warehouse in Hackney Wick. The project has since evolved into an installation/performance based electro-acoustic ‘two-piece’ orchestra, whose aural narratives are created within fluid frameworks that map a trajectory in time, but leave the sonic textures and compositions entirely free and undetermined. Deemer employ, among other things, alto saxophone, drums, analogue electronics, tape, transducer microphones/speakers to instantly compose, activate space, and blur the boundaries between free jazz and sound installation.

Merijn Royaards electronics/percussion

Dee Byrne alto saxophone/electronics

duck-rabbit

This new improvising trio explores two contrasting and overlapping personalities; one acoustic, one electronic. Using unique electronic instruments, they interact with their acoustic improvisations to form a rich and varied dialogue. Their interaction creates an absorbing interplay between past and present, a constant re-imagining of ideas within an expanded sonic terrain. Two releases, ‘Path To Field’ and ‘Scattered Voices: Part 1’ came out in early 2014.

Joe Wright – saxophone/electronics

Tom Taylor – piano/electronics

James Opstad – double bass/electronics

Thursday 20th November: Entropi & Quadraceratops

Entropi

Led by Dee Byrne, Entropi started life in 2010 as a vehicle for composition and improvisation. Dee’s compositions deal with the inconsistent nature of time, the transience of life, exploration of the unknown, pivotal moments of decision making, journeys in outer space and the unlikely symmetry of seemingly unrelated events.

Dee Byrne alto saxophone

Andre Canniere trumpet

Rebecca Nash keyboards

Olie Brice bass

Matt Fisher drums

Quadraceratops

Cath Roberts leads this septet playing her compositions, described by Jez Nelson as ‘suitably psychotic!’ The current set of music is inspired by insects, fairground rides, underground tunnelling machines and fictional serial killers. The first Quadraceratops album was released on Efpi Records in October.

Cath Roberts alto saxophone, compositions

Tom Ward tenor saxophone

Henry Spencer trumpet

Magnus Dearness trombone

Dave O’Brien keyboards

Jason Simpson bass

Olly Blackman drums

On all three nights it will be doors 8pm, music 8.30pm at Long White Cloud. We hope you can join us for three festive nights at LUME!