Category Archives: improv

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

19th February: Rubik Trio & Solodog

This week we welcome two new projects: Rubrik Trio and Solodog. Come and join us for a great night of original music!

Rubik Trio

Rubik was formed out of a mutual love of the classic piano trio format, and an enduring interest in the re-invention of the jazz repertory. The trio utilises contemporary rhythmic approaches and reharmonisation to create vigorous interpretations of jazz standards, and also performs original compositions by band members. The musicians share a deep understanding of the jazz tradition and a collectively wide experience of performing other music including flamenco, tango and West African. The resultant trio sound is energetic and rhythmically acute, with a keen attention to melody; playful, highly interactive, and performed with commitment.

Andrew Oliver piano
Tim Fairhall bass
Jon Desbruslais drums

Solodog

Solodog are an improvising quartet born of weekly jam sessions in a living room with the aim to learn how to play free jazz. The group has since expanded from 2 to 4 and has developed a keen rapport alongside a repertoire of original compositions. Sounds of Tim Berne and Ornette Coleman seem to be emanating from the group these days…

Matthew Herd alto sax
Kieran McLeod trombone
Sean Maynard Smith bass guitar/compositions
Will Glaser drums

12th February: Word Of Moth

One of our most important goals when setting up LUME was to create a space for new projects. This week, we’re taking advantage of that space and collaborating (musically) for the first time…

Word Of Moth

The first outing of a brand new project co-led by Dee Byrne (Entropi) and Cath Roberts (Quadraceratops, Ripsaw Catfish). Word Of Moth will explore new compositions by Dee and Cath, plus group improvisation. The two saxes will be joined by an exciting rhythm section of Seth Bennett (Nut Club, Metamorphic) on bass and Tom Greenhalgh (Snack Family, Metamorphic) on drums.

Dee Byrne alto sax, compositions
Cath Roberts baritone sax, compositions
Seth Bennett bass
Tom Greenhalgh drums

As usual it’s doors 8pm, music at 8.30pm. £5 entry. See you there!

Kicking off the year with a double LUME week…

Happy 2015 everyone! We’re looking forward to starting our year of gigs at Long White Cloud and the Vortex. In fact, the first week of the year is a double LUME week….

5th February @ Long White Cloud: Andrew Woolf Quintet & Sans Domicile Fixe

For our first week back at Long White Cloud, we’re happy to welcome two bandleaders with connections to F-IRE Collective, Zac Gvi and Andrew Woolf.

Andrew Woolf Quintet

Andrew Woolf grew up playing classical music before discovering jazz in his teens. Since then, his musical palette has continued to broaden, so that he is now known for his diversity across many musical settings. As well as playing with a variety of modern jazz ensembles (Button Band, Madwort Sax Quartet), he is also a leading exponent in the UK of Brazilan choro (a style with parallels to ragtime and folk), sings with the London Vocal Project (Kenny Wheeler, Bobby McFerrin) and performs regularly on the London Afrobeat scene.

This variety of experience and interest finds a unity of expression in his output as an improviser and writer, simultaneously accessible and surprising, moving and uplifting. His quintet places an emphasis on lyricism, atmosphere, sonority and playfulness, in which his soulful, warm and melancholy-tinged sound expresses a depth, clarity and honesty of emotion and feeling.

“… warm-toned mellifluous tenor saxophone… with elegant phrasing” – LondonJazz

Andrew Woolf tenor saxophone and clarinet
Robbie Robson trumpet
Ryan Williams guitar
Dave O’Brien double bass
Corrie Dick drums

Sans Domicile Fixe

Drawing their inspiration from Beat Poetry, SDF is a new group that brings together spoken word and groove music in a way that eschews the obvious hip hop connotations and searches for more free form and dynamic inter-relationships between the two. Taking the poems of Alistair Cartwright and others as a starting point, the rhythm section combines to create a form that’s part writing, part song.

Alistair Cartwright vocals
Zac Gvi keys
Ed Hiller drums
Plus guests to be announced….

As usual it’s doors 8pm, music at 8.30pm. £5 entry. See you there!

8th February: ‘LUME Presents…’ @ The Vortex

We’ve put together an exciting second season of our ‘LUME Presents…’ series at the Vortex Jazz Club. To start things off, we’re looking forward to welcoming a fantastic tentet and trio!

Roland Ramanan Tentet

This tentet comprises some of the most exciting musicians to emerge from the European free jazz/improvised music scene. Inspired by playing with the Peter Brotzmann tentet, the group combines original compositions with free and conducted improvised music to wildly sensual effect.

‘Throws a bomb under the usual carve-up between composition and improvisation’ (The Wire)

Roland Ramanan trumpet
Nick Malcolm trumpet
Ed Lucas trombone
Adrian Northover soprano saxophone
Ricardo Tejero alto saxophone
Rachel Musson tenor saxophone
Roberto Sassi electric guitar
Dominic Lash bass
Mark Sanders drums
Andrew Lisle drums

Andreae/Birchall/Cheetham with Javier Saso

A trio of Manchester’s finest improvisers, joined by a special guest. Tenor player Sam Andreae is known for his collaborations with Scandinavian musicians in the critically- acclaimed bands Trio Riot and Silence Blossoms, as well as countless other projects. Birchall and Cheetham’s duo was described by Mojo as ‘a psychedelic maelstrom of sound that threatens to atomise your walls’. The trio toured Scandinavia in 2013 and have performed widely around the UK and further afield. With their debut release newly out on the Tombed Visions label, they are joined tonight by Madrid experimental musician Javier Saso.

Sam Andreae tenor saxophone
David Birchall guitar
Andrew Cheetham drums
Javier Saso amplified objects, machines obsolètes, pickups, radios

Tickets are £8 in advance from the Vortex website, or £10 on the door. Join us for a night of improv explorations! Doors 7.30pm, music 8pm…

Spring 2015 programme at Long White Cloud

Hooray! We’ve finished our Spring season at Long White Cloud and it’s looking great. Lots of exciting bands and new collaborations for your ears. Here we go…

February

5th Andrew Woolf Quintet & Sans Domicile Fixe

12th Word Of Moth

19th Rubik Trio & Solodog

26th Alec Harper/Tom Wheatley/Andrew Lisle & Ti/om

March

5th Backyard Chassis & Seth Bennett/Cath Roberts

12th Alex Bonney Quartet

19th Huw V Williams Meets A Quartet

26th Andreae/Knight/Ward & Pete Ibbetson/Rory Simmons

April

2nd Last Summer’s Tealights & Penelope Dreaming

9th KTHXBYE with Colin Webster & New World Order

16th Sloth Racket & Alex Ward

23rd Mark Sanders/Sarah Gail Brand

30th Gus Garside/Annie Kerr & Byrne/Nash/Pursglove

See you there…

‘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.

Thanks for a great 2014!!

Quick post just to say a massive THANKS to everyone who has supported LUME this year – all the amazing musicians and lovely audience members! We’ve had a blast and we’re looking forward to all the exciting LUME activities we’re planning for 2015.

Have a great festive season – we’ll be back in February.

Cheers!

Cath and Dee

18th December: Rowland Sutherland Double Trio

This week we’re closing 2014 with an exciting evening of music from some big names on the London improv scene – and definitely the most flutes we’ve ever had at a LUME gig so far. Rowland Sutherland brings this fantastic group comprised of players whose reputations precede them. Come and join us at Long White Cloud as we toast a great year of live music at LUME with three sets: trio, trio and double trio!

Trio:
Rowland Sutherland flutes (Henry Threadgill, Carla Bley)
Emi Watanabe Japanese flutes (Jah Wobble, David Toop)
David Leahy bass (Evan Parker, Louis Moholo)

Trio:
Tom Jackson clarinet (Squib Box, CRAM Collective)
Neil Metcalfe flute (Roscoe Mitchell, Lol Coxhill)
Daniel Thompson guitar (Javier Carmona, Benedict Taylor)

‘LUME Presents…’ at the Vortex, Sunday 7th December: Saxoctopus & Alphabets

Sticking with last month’s theme of improv trio plus large ensemble, this month at the Vortex we’re very excited to be hosting Alphabets – Hannah Marshall, Nick Malcolm and Lauren Kinsella – and the first full-length outing of new saxophone octet Saxoctopus!

Alphabets

Alphabets is a new trio comprising three exciting voices in UK and Irish improvised
music, creating music inspired by language, vocalisation & landscapes. The group
aims to reach states of stillness and repose as well as fast instinctive rhythmic
interaction, and to tease out all possible sonorities from their instruments. They
embarked upon their debut UK tour in March 2014, and recorded in July. The three
musicians have distinctive and respected voices in jazz, free music and improvisation
and play together to share a passion for spontaneous music.

Hannah Marshall – cello
Lauren Kinsella – vocals
Nick Malcolm – trumpet

Saxoctopus

The Saxoctopus was inadvertantly formed when eight saxophonists found themselves
in a room together at a gig in Autumn 2013. A cautionary lesson on the dangers of
social networking banter, they underwent the transformation from Twitter joke to
Real Band when vibraphonist Corey Mwamba offered them a gig at his jazz night in
Derby. A cameo performance with Trio Riot at the Vortex in March 2014 sealed the
deal, and they are performing their first full set tonight. The group showcases original
compositions by its members, as well as being a vehicle for exploring graphic scores
and guided group improvisation. Featuring top improvisers from around the UK and
Scandinavia, this will be an exploration into the outer limits of the saxophone…

Julie Kjaer – alto
Oliver Dover – alto
Dee Byrne – alto
Rachel Musson – tenor
Tom Ward – tenor
Sam Andreae – tenor
Cath Roberts – baritone
Colin Webster – baritone

Grab some advance £8 tickets from the Vortex website, or show up on the night and it’s £10 on the door. We’d love to see you there!

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.