Category Archives: guitars

23rd October: Daniel Thompson/Ed Lucas/Paul May

Two sets of improvised music this week from a trio put together by guitarist Daniel Thompson. Daniel is a prolific improviser, extremely active on the London free scene, and organises the monthly Foley Street improvised music concert series at the King and Queen pub in the West End. Originally from Norfolk and largely self-taught on the guitar, Daniel moved to London in 2006 and studied with the guitarist and Mopomoso co-founder John Russell. He has performed/collaborated with numerous improvisers including Guillaume Viltard, Neil Metcalfe, Adam Bohman, Terry Day, Simon Rose, Ricardo Tejero, Steve Noble, Alex Ward, Phil Durrant, Kay Grant, Benedict Taylor, Roland Ramanan, Mark Sanders, Anton Mobin, Tom Jackson, Javier Carmona and Julie Kjaer amongst many others. The trio performing for us this week has been assembled especially for this gig, and we’re looking forward to some great music!

Daniel Thompson guitar

Ed Lucas trombone

Paul May percussion

Photo: Prepared Guitar blog (where there is an excellent ’13 Questions’ interview with Daniel)

16th October: Vole & Olie Brice (solo set)

A really tasty double bill this week, with a rare solo bass set from LUME regular the ever-excellent Olie Brice, and a set from Roland Ramanan’s ‘punk, funk, improv’ outfit Vole.

Vole

Between them, the members of Vole play with Peter Brotzmann, Ingrid Laubrock, Pat Thomas, Steve Noble, Alex Ward etc and are all leading members of the London Improvisors Orchestra. ‘By turns floating, funking and punking out, Vole stuff a range of influences and compositional devices into an improvised funnel and let them splatter all over the audience,’ says a Vortex Jazz Club blurb on their website. Influenced by the likes of Tim Berne and Henry Threadgill, improvisation lies at the heart of the music but it’s always framed within compositions that bring to bear their combined experiences of playing art-rock, groove-improv, punk, funk and jazz.

Roland Ramanan – trumpet

Ricardo Tejero – alto sax

Roberto Sassi – guitar

Tom Greenhalgh – drums

Olie Brice

‘Brice makes the entire body of his bass sing. He has the ability to deliver a fractal line that is as purposeful as any by the great jazz bassists, but to do so within an entirely abstract setting,’ wrote Brian Morton (Point of Departure) about prolific improv/jazz bassist Olie Brice. We’ve been lucky enough to have him appear at LUME in various different projects over the past year, and it’s always a pleasure. Olie is involved in several collaborative groups (Wolf Suit, Riverloam Trio, BABs, Catatumbo) and as a sideman in numerous others (Nick Malcolm Quartet, Mike Fletcher Trio, Alex Bonney Trio, Inner Space Music), but tonight none of these will be in evidence as he’ll be playing solo! A rare opportunity to enjoy an exploration of the double bass as the main focus of the set.

We hope you agree this should be an excellent night of music. Join us….same LUME time, same LUME place…

9th October: The Button Band

During our venue troubles last year, The Button Band played the only LUME gig at the Hanbury Arms in Islington. The Hanbury is a lovely pub with a great upstairs space, but they’d had some neighbour complaints and moved LUME downstairs as a pre-emptive measure. Cue a slightly strange setup, at one end of the massive main pub room! Despite this though, it was a nice night and a good crown turned up to hear The Button Band and Pocket-Size.

When we heard that a Button Band album had been recorded, we had to invite them back! It will be great to hear them again in the cozy setting of Long White Cloud. The band is led by guitarist Andrew Button who, as well as being a busy London musician, is involved in running three (three!) regular nights: the long-running Jazz At The Salisbury in North London, Jazz At The Bell in Walthamstow, and his most recent venture Jazz At The Union Chapel Bar (part of the Sunday Sessions upstairs at Union Chapel, Islington). He assembled the quartet to play his compositions, which have been described as ‘reminiscent of Bill Frisell’s cross-genre explorations’ (London Jazz News). We’re looking forward to welcoming this group of fantastic musicians back to LUME….and checking out the album!

Andrew Button – guitar, composition

Andrew Woolf – tenor saxophone

Dave Manington – bass

Jon Ormston – drums

‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex, Sunday 5th October: Quadraceratops (album launch) & Paradox Ensemble

‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex is back! This month it’s a double bill of medium sized ensembles from the roster of our favourite Manchester contemporary jazz/improv/experimental music label Efpi Records, to celebrate the launch of the debut album from Cath’s band Quadraceratops! The album is coming out on Monday 6th October, and the band will head up to Manchester on Tuesday 7th for the northern leg of the album launch. At the Vortex they are joined by trumpeter Nick Walters’ excellent Paradox Ensemble….this will be a great night!

Paradox Ensemble

Manchester and London-based nonet led by trumpet player Nick Walters (Riot Jazz,
Beats & Pieces Big Band). Bringing together many strands of his musical experience,
Nick has taken inspiration from jazz composers such as Gil Evans, electronic artists
such as Aphex Twin, and from artists who blur the lines between the two, such as Jaga
Jazzist and Tortoise. The result is, as Manchester Jazz Festival put it ahead of the
groupʼs live debut in 2013, ‘a coherent synthesis of electronics, live effects and
samples but retaining an earthy groove.ʼ Paradox Ensemble released ‘Entanglement’
in August 2013 on Efpi Records.

Nick Walters – trumpet + electronics
Tim Cox – trombone
Sam Healey – Alto sax
Ed Cawthorne – tenor sax + bass clarinet
Ben Kelly – sousaphone
Rebecca Nash – keys
Aidan Shepherd – accordian
Anton Hunter – guitar
Paul Michael – bass
Yussef Dayes – drums

Quadraceratops

Cath Roberts leads this septet playing her original compositions, described by Jazz On
3′s Jez Nelson as ‘suitably psychotic!’ Formed in 2011, the band have played at
numerous jazz nights around London as well as appearing at the London Jazz Festival
and ‘Jazz In The Round’ at the Cockpit Theatre. In Spring 2014 they recorded a
selection of music inspired by insects, fairground rides, underground tunnelling
machines and fictional serial killers. The result is their debut album ‘Quadraceratops’,
released on 6th October by Efpi Records and launched this evening at The Vortex.

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

Come down to the Vortex and check out these two bands playing great new music! Plus, Cath’s album will be on sale….just sayin’…

Doors 8pm, music 8.30pm and it’s £10 on the door, but £8 if you book tickets now on the Vortex website.

4th September: The Static Memories & duck-rabbit

We’re back! For our first gig at Long White Cloud after the summer break, we have a double bill of acoustic/electronic improvised music from London and Brighton. duck-rabbit brings together some musicians who have appeared at LUME with different projects, while The Static Memories is a duo of two top improvisers and our first band from the Brighton scene.

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

The Static Memories

Dan Powell and Gus Garside have been working together on improv project The Static Memories since 2007. Their new album ‘The bloudy vision of John Farley’ came out in June on The Slightly Off-Kilter Label.

Dan Powell (laptop/guitar/sampler/effects) began making sound for installation works in London in the mid 90’s and was involved in live arts group OMSK. Since moving to Brighton in 2000 he has concentrated on experimental and improvised music. He is a member of Brighton based collective The Spirit of Gravity and has performed across the UK. Dan is also a member of free improv duo Nil with Chris Parfitt.

Gus Garside (double bass/electronics) has worked in a variety of musical settings – jazz, contemporary music, pop, cabaret, dance, theatre and, most importantly, improvised music where he has performed with many leading players. Gus formed arc in 1988 and their third album “the pursuit of happiness” was released on Emanem Records in 2009. He formed In Sand in 2004 and their first album “Whatever” came out mid 2008. Gus is part of the Brighton Safehouse collective, and has collaborated with a wide range of improvising and contemporary music players and dancers and frequently works with laptop musicians and also performs solo.

+ Special guest dancer Mirei Yazawa

This will be a fascinating evening of new music – come and join us as we kick off the next season of Long White Cloud gigs. Don’t forget that this is a double LUME week too, as our second ‘LUME Presents…’ gig at the Vortex, with Corey Mwamba and Deemer, is this Sunday!

Not long until ‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex!

Our ‘LUME Presents…’ series at the Vortex kicks off on August 3rd with a double bill of Overground Collective and Madwort’s Menagerie. It’s all very exciting and advance tickets are available now from the Vortex website! Here’s some background on the two bands…

Overground Collective

Paulo Dias Duarte is an award-winning Portuguese composer, based in London since
2003. Paulo’s compositions mix styles and frame musical clichés in very unusual way,
guiding audiences through rarely-visited musical fields. The Overground Collective is
an unorthodox big band composed of some of the wildest improvisers on the London
jazz scene. The combination of Paulo’s music and these improvisers makes each
concert a unique experience….as you can see from this video!

Guitar/composition – Paulo Dias Duarte

Alto saxophone/soprano/flute – Chris Williams
Alto saxophone/flute/piccolo – Julie Kjaer
Tenor saxophone – Rachel Musson
Tenor saxophone – Dan Mays
Bass clarinet – Tom Ward
Baritone saxophone – Joseph Stout

Trumpet – Noel Langley
Trumpet – Yazmeen Ahmed
Trumpet – Andre Canniere
Trumpet – Henry Spencer

Trombone – Paul Taylor
Trombone – Ed Reiband
Trombone – Raph Clarkson
Bass Trombone – Olivir Haylett
Tuba – Ben Kelly

Bass – Ben Bastin
Keyboards – Danny Keane
Drums – Jon Scott

Madwort’s Menagerie
After a momentary glimpse in a misfiring big band rehearsal, Tom Ward has been
bugged by an overheard snippet of a weird quartet comprising bass clarinet, flute,
trumpet and trombone. Transmogrifying some of his compositions for sax quartet,
hybridising this with his free improv duo Ti/om and finally balancing woodwind, brass
and strings with the addition of a cello, Tom is proud to present Madwort’s
Menagerie. Featuring some incredible improvising musicians with a full spectrum of
credits ranging from the London Improvisers Orchestra through Brass Mask, the
Overground Collective, Quadraceratops and The Imaginary Delta to Sinfonia Cymru
and the London Tango Orchestra.

Tom Ward – bass clarinet, flute, composition
Julie Kjaer – flute, alto flute
Alex Bonney – trumpet
Magnus Dearness – trombone
Adam Spiers – cello
Tim Fairhall – double bass

We hope you’ll agree it’s going to be a fantastic night of new music. Join us as we venture into a new chapter of LUME with these amazing musicians!

Artwork by the ever-awesome Peter Beatty…

‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex

We’re very excited to announce a new venture for late Summer and Autumn 2014: ‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex in Dalston! We will be hosting monthly double bills of our favourite musicians every first Sunday of the month starting on August 3rd. Join us for an extra dose of great original and improvised music…and a great excuse for some brand new artwork from the amazing Peter Beatty! Tickets are on sale from the Vortex website.

26th June: Shatner’s Bassoon

An exciting finale for the month of June with the notorious Leeds-based sextet Shatner’s Bassoon, bringing their distinctive brand of ‘controlled pandemonium’ to LUME as part of their UK tour. We’re in for a treat! Here’s the biog….

Shatner’s Bassoon are a group of six Leeds based composers/improvisers. Since forming in 2010 they have embarked on two tours of the UK, completed a PRS funded residency program, had a live show featured on BBC Jazz on 3, released their debut album ‘Aquatic Ape Privilege’ on their own label – ‘Wasp Millionaire’ and have been selected by Jazz North as ‘Jazz Ambassadors of the North’ on their ‘Northern Line’ program.

Influenced by contemporary artists such as Tim Berne, Mr. Bungle, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Tyshawn Sorey and a range of rock and electronica; and with a combined experience that includes eastern European folk, Hindustani music, Brazilian music, straight ahead and free jazz, reggae, metal, contemporary classical and musique concrete; Shatner’s Bassoon have developed a unique collective sound based on developing complex compositional structures through improvisation – allowing the music to be naturally infused by their experiences. The results can range from dense free noise through intense riffs and ambient textures. They play with musical clichés and conventions to produce music that negotiates a path from the beautiful to the sinister, humorous and surreal.

Michael Bardon – bass/electronics

Ollie Dover – sax/clarinet

Joost Hendrickx – drums/electronics

Andrew Lisle – drums

Johnny Richards – keys/electronics

Craig Scott – guitar/electronics

This will be a packed night with a BIG lineup, so make sure you get to Long White Cloud early to avoid having to climb over the band! Doors 8pm, music starting at 8.30pm, £5 entry…join us!

15th May: Flashmob

This week guitarist Ryan Williams brings his quartet Flashmob to LUME, featuring some of the London scene’s top jazz musicians.

The band’s debut album ‘Generals’ was released in September 2011 on the prestigious F-IRE label to much critical acclaim: John Fordham made Flashmob his ‘ones to watch’ in 2012, saying that the band’s music ‘should widen the audience for its mix of lyrical jazz and taut contemporary rhythms.’ Following the release of ‘Generals’, the band featured in Jazzwise magazine and embarked on a Jazz Services supported nationwide tour as well as performing at the London Jazz Festival, The Vortex and Jez Nelson’s ‘Jazz In The Round’.

Flashmob completed a second Jazz Services supported nationwide tour in November 2013 and are due to record their second album in 2014. We look forward to welcoming them to Long White Cloud!

Ryan Williams – guitar
Robbie Robson – trumpet/flugelhorn
Ryan Trebilcock – double bass
Nick Smalley – drums

As usual it’s doors at 8pm, with the music starting at 8.30pm, and £5 entry. Long White Cloud, 151 Hackney Road, E2 8JL…just around the corner from Hoxton overground station.

1st May: Ant Law Quintet

We are delighted to welcome this high-calibre jazz quintet led by guitarist Ant Law, playing his compositions.

Ant Law Quintet

Guitarist Ant Law was a scholar at both Edinburgh University and Berklee College of Music until moving to London in 2008. He then picked up work with artists such as Tim Garland, Mica Paris, Gwilym Simcock, Leon Ware, Asaf Sirkis, Koby Israelite, Camille O’Sullivan, Britain’s Got Talent star Tony Laf, X-factor winner Steve Brookstein and Eileen Hunter, and members of Incognito and Level 42.

Ant’s debut album “Entanglement” was released on the 33Jazz record label in February 2013 to great critical acclaim. This project was awarded funding from the Jazz Services Recording Support Scheme. The album launch at Pizza Express Dean Street was sold out and the band then completed a 29-date UK tour, with further support from Jazz Services. Ant completed the second volume of compositions whilst on tour in Brazil this summer. The band are showcasing that music before recording the second album.

Ant Law – guitar

Michael Chillingworth – reeds

Rick Simpson – piano

Calum Gourlay – bass

Dave Hamblett – drums

Doors 8pm, music 8.30pm. Long White Cloud, 151 Hackney Road, E2 8JL. £5 entry.