Category Archives: saxes

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

An evening of improvised music featuring musicians from London, Manchester and Macclesfield!

Andreae/Knight/Ward

A brand-new trio project for 2015, featuring a unique instrumentation that provides a fascinating palette of sounds for improvisation. Two saxophones are joined by no-input mixer…the first appearance of this instrument at LUME so far!

No-input mixer involves wiring the outputs of a standard mixing desk into the inputs to create feedback loops that act as signal generators. This can then be manipulated using the mixing desk’s various functions, producing a wide variety of electronic sounds and textures when in skilled hands. Combined with the extended saxophone techniques of Andreae and Ward, the trio creates a unique aesthetic that explores the outer limits of improvisation and noise music.

Sam Andreae tenor saxophone
Richard Knight no-input mixer
Tom Ward alto saxophone

Pete Ibbetson/Rory Simmons

Debut performance of this duo, made up of two musicians often seen in other contexts on the creative music scene. Rory Simmons’ bands Fringe Magnetic, Monocled Man and Eyes Of A Blue Dog have all released critically acclaimed albums, while Ibbetson has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Jazz on 3’ with his own band The Twelveheads.

In addition to drums and trumpet, an emphasis on electronic soundscapes will be prevalent through the use of analogue synths and sound processing. The duo take inspiration from free jazz, improv, rock, electro-acoustic music and electronica, citing bands such as Chicago Underground, Science Friction and Bloodcount as big influences.

Rory Simmons trumpet / electronics / synths
Peter Ibbetson drums / synth / electronics

Join us at Long White Cloud for a foray into improv with electronics….

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

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!

‘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.

‘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.

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!

13th November: Destination Out & Paul Baxter Trio

Composer, arranger and double bassist Paul Baxter brings together Leeds and London based musicians this week in an exciting double bill featuring two of his projects. Both groups will also perform a short improvised set together at the end of the evening.

Destination Out!

Formed in 2012 when Paul was studying for a Masters in Jazz Performance at Trinity College of Music, the ensemble explores the cosmos with free improvisation and group interaction using Paul’s idiosyncratic compositions as their astrological map. Think Ornette Coleman meets Tim Berne.

Dee Byrne – alto saxophone

Ian Bumstead – tenor & bass clarinet

Paul Baxter – bass/compositions

Corrie Dick – drums

Paul Baxter Trio

Premiering new material drawing on influences from Bojan Z, The Bad Plus and even Bartok. The group combine rhythmic complexity and propulsion with a joyous freedom reminiscent of the 70’s Jarrett trio all this enveloped by their unique blend of accessible, melodic compositions with fiery and expansive improvisation.

John Tomlinson – keyboard

Paul Baxter – bass/compositions

Kris Wright – drums

Doors 8pm, music starts at 8.30pm. £5 entry.

Long White Cloud,
151 Hackney Road,
E2 8JL.
Nearest station: Hoxton Overground (less than 5 mins’ walk)

See you there!