3rd July 2013: BIG NEWS: Announcing the Whirlwind Festival October 10-12 at Kings Place in London. 18 Bands, 86 musicians in 3 Days

 

WWR FEST 2013 IS NOW COMPLETE AND WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS 

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CAME AND SHOWED YOUR AMAZING SUPPORT.

We were able to have a number of the concerts professionally recorded and you can watch them below. Enjoy
(and stay tuned for more!)

 

ABOUT WWR FEST 2013:

It seems like only yesterday we released our first album Purpose Built by WWR founder and bassist/producer Michael Janisch in early 2010, and here we are a little over three years later with a catalog of 33 releases, with a few more planned for 2013.  We decided it was time to throw our first big party, so what better way than to host a festival, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do on October 10, 11 and 12 this year at one of Europe’s leading cultural landmarks, the Kings Place in London (pic above from the outside (left)).  18 Bands, all led by WWR artists will be performing across the three days showcasing a big swath of our entire catalog, with nearly 100 world class musicians performing a seriously eclectic mix of modern improvisational music.  Anyone who’s been to Kings Place knows that it’s arguably the best acoustic venue for large concerts in London, and our various shows will take place in the grand Hall 1 (above pic right), Hall 2 and the St. Pancras Room. There will be double bills, triple bills, free events, educational workshops, day passes, early bird tickets, some surprises we can’t mention yet, and even a WWR festival ticket which will allow fans to see nearly every single show at the festival across the entire three days. Below is the comprehensive schedule as it stands today and please note we’ll be adding a lot more information to this page in the coming weeks.

You can get tickets for all the individual events here. | Click here for Festival & Day Passes!!

WWR would like to give a big thank to Arts Council England for their generous support in funding our first festival. 

 

Thursday Oct 10, 2013 Schedule

St. Pancras Room: 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  Ollie Howell Quintet. Official Album Launch Party for Sutures & Stitches  PURCHASE TICKETS

His debut Sutures and Stitches contains a superb collection of original compositions, featuring some of the brightest emerging stars on the UK scene and should prove to be one of the highlight debut releases of 2013. The album also has an incredible back-story. In 2009 Ollie was diagnosed with a brain malformation called Arnold Chiari Type 2, which meant that over the past few years he has had several neurosurgeries, the latest being in April 2012. All of the music on this album was written during, and influenced by, the incredible journey that Ollie went through during this defining point in his life.  As noted by jazz legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb, “Ollie is an important rising star and well on the way to forging an exciting musical career.” 

This album launch concert will feature:  Ollie Howell – Drums, Max Luthert – Double Bass, Matt Robinson – Piano, Duncan Eagles – Tenor Saxophone & Mark Perry – Trumpet. 

 

Since releasing their eponymous debut album in 2010, London, UK based contemporary jazz trio Partikel (Duncan Eagles – Tenor Saxophone, Max Luthert – Double Bass & Eric Ford – Drums) have established themselves as a notable addition to the European creative music scene, known for their high-energy live performances and striking originality. Having spent 18 months performing new music across Europe while holding regular rehearsals, the band has gone into the studio and the result of this intense period of music making is now documented on Cohesion, their latest release for Whirlwind Recordings.

According to tenor saxophonist Duncan Eagles, “Most of the new songs that made it onto this album we have been playing in for a long time, developing it on the bandstand and rehearsal room, but the way we were playing this music a year ago is a world apart from how you will hear it on Cohesion.
The sound palette displayed on Cohesion ranges from across the musical spectrum. “The three of us are always checking out what each other are listening to, as well as going out together to hear all kinds of different live music,” states Eagles. There are influences from North African and Latin American culture as well as more Western sounds from Jazz, Funk and Classical music, all held together with soulful melodies and a virtuosic band sound and energy. The result of constant touring is also clearly evident on Cohesion, which presents a fresh, melodic and fiercely interactive set of passionate and sincere music, while presenting an original take on the classic jazz saxophone trio format. The unanimous declaration amongst the UK press as of late is that Partikel is one of the UK’s hottest new prospects, and with the release of Cohesion the band surely proves themselves worthy of this praise.  This concert will feature Partikel :-).

Oct 10th Hall 1, 9pm: The Alex Garnett & Nick Vayenas Quintet play music from Serpent and official European album launch for Some Other Time   PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS TRIPLE BILL CONCERT

This is a star-studded event featuring the London-based saxophonist and composer Alex Garnett and the NYC-based trumpeter, trombonist and vocalist Nick Vayenas.  Both artists comfortably work across genres from pop to rock to contemporary jazz and boast a collective performance resume with such diverse heavyweights as The Rolling Stones, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Michael Buble, Lionel Loueke and Sir John Dankworth. 

Both leaders have also released critically-acclaimed WWR albums, and tonight they will be showcasing music from Garnett’s debut album Serpent (one of the most highly praised debuts on our roster) which was recorded at the famed Systems Two Studios in NYC and features Willie Jones III, Anthoney Wonsey & Michael Janisch, along with music from Vayenas’ pending NOV 2013 follow-up WWR release Some Other Time, which boasts a bumper-crop of some of NY’s finest improvising musicians.

Rounding out this all star ensemble will be special guest guitarist Femi Temowo, one of the UK’s most celebrated guitarist/composers, having performed with everyone from Amy Winehouse to Soweto Kinch to Courtney Pine, as well as WWR’s founder and world-renowned bassist Michael Janisch and Spanish drumming sensation Mark Ayza.

 

“[Serpent] reveals a compositional sharpness that makes this new solo career look like a long-term one… full of exhilarating melodic turns… it’s an unexpected gem.”
**** 4 Stars, The Guardian

“Having an original sound is crucial to being a jazz artist, [on ‘Nick Vayenas’] Vayenas has got a great, identifiable sound that is all his own….and Lionel Loueke is perfect as he flourishes in a playing situation similar to his stints with Herbie Hancock.” – The Entertainment Bank

 

Oct 10th, Hall 1, 10 pm: Gareth Lockrane’s Grooveyard Unplugged plays The Strut, MOJO Magazines Jazz Album of the Year 2012:  PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS TRIPLE BILL CONCERT

THE STRUT (named “Jazz Album of the Year” in MOJO Magazine 2012) is the first Whirlwind Recordings album from internationally acclaimed jazz flautist Gareth Lockrane (currently residing in London) and his Hammond Organ Ensemble ‘Grooveyard’. Lockrane is known around the world as one of the most accomplished, prolific, virtuosic and versatile jazz flautists and composers, boasting an enviable resume full of accolades and awards (he is one of the only non-American jazz artists to maintain a presence in the prestigious ‘Downbeat Magazine Critic’s Poll’ in the ‘Rising-Star Flautist’ Category). Equally skilled as a composer, Lockrane has a Masters Degree from the National Film and Television School, the UK’s most prestigious university for Film Scoring and his musical output is incredible as he leads chamber trios, quartets, quintets, septets (for which he won a Parliamentary Jazz Award in the ‘Best Album’ category for his album No Messin), and even his acclaimed contemporary big band.

The Strut is the long-awaited follow up to Lockrane’s 2003 debut album Put The Cat Out (winner of ‘Best European Jazz Group’ Granada Jazz Festival 2003). This epic, ambitious and stylistically wide-ranging record fuses the spirit of the historic soul-jazz groups of yesteryear alongside contemporary jazz fused with gospel, chamber music, cinematic rock, funk and even world music influences, which showcases the wide-ranging palette of compositional colors and moods Lockrane is so known for. In addition to Lockrane who plays concert, alto & bass flutes, the album also features long-time Grooveyard cohort Alex Garnett on saxophones, inspirational guitar wizard Mike Outram, Hammond organ wunderkind Ross Stanley, drum dynamo Nick Smalley, and guesting on three tracks on wordless vocals is the astonishing Nia Lynn, whose ‘Bannau Trio’ with Gareth Lockrane and Ross Stanley has been quietly ploughing it’s own path in the contemporary chamber jazz world since 2005.

This concert will feature the ‘Unplugged’ version of Grooveyard: Lockrane – flutes, Alex Garnett on Saxophones, Ross Stanley on Piano, Dave Whitford on Double Bass & Tim GIles on Drums. 

 

 

Friday Oct 11, 2013 Schedule

St. Pancras Room: 6:30 – 7:30 pm:  Rachael Cohen Group ft Phil Robson: Official debut album launch concert for Halftime.  PURCHASE TICKETS

Rachael Cohen, originally from the Shetland Islands and now based in London, is an alto saxophonist and composer on the rise, with an infectious tone and an uncanny-storytelling-ability-when-improvising that defies her age.   As of late, her performances and composing skills have gained her a great deal of attention and some major awards and nominations from the UK Jazz Press & Community.  One of Rachael’s best attributes is her lyrical and controlled phrasing when improvising, which she delivers with the ease and sophistication of someone twice her age.  And her sidewoman credentials are very impressive, performing already with such notables as Joe Locke, Arild Andersen, Tommy Smith, John Hollenbeck, Donny McCaslin, Phil Robson, and Gary Versace.
This concert is the official launch of her debut solo album Halftime, which launches officially on October 28 2013.  Her confirmed quartet is an exciting cast of players with a big special guest: with regular member of her trio Jim Bashford on drums, bassist Calum Gourlay (a WWR regular) & special guest and WWR Artist Phil Robson on guitar, all who appear on her debut. 
More information on Rachael’s release to come soon.

 

Oct 11, Hall 1, 8 – 11 pm, Triple Bill:

The Whirlwind Quartet (Crowley/Gibbs/Burton/Hamblett) | Konrad Wiszniewski & Euan Stevenson’s New Focus |
Phil Robson’s IMS Quintet  PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS TRIPLE BILL CONCERT

Four of Europe’s guiding lights and in-demand jazz musicians make up The Whirlwind Quartet. New Focus is an award winning, genre-bending 9-piece ensemble from Scottish musicians Euan Stevenson & Konrad Wiszniewski. The multi-award winning guitar wizard Phil Robson leads an all-star quintet performing music from The Immeasurable Code.

8 pm: The Whirlwind Quartet ft George Crowley, Euan Burton, Tom Gibbs & Dave Hamblett
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Four of Europe’s guiding lights and in-demand jazz musicians- still in their twenties- come together to perform as the ‘Whirlwind Quartet‘ to showcase music from each of their critically acclaimed WWR albums.  Saxophonist George Crowley’s debut album Paper Universe, pianist Tom Gibbs’ debut Fear of Flying, double bassist Euan Burton’s Occurrences and drummer Dave Hamblett’s debut Light at Night have made a huge impact on the UK scene (gaining a string of accolades in the press) and established each member as a noteworthy bandleader and composer of considerably depth.  This will be their first performance together and each leader will present a selection of tunes from their respective albums.  Check out each of their promo videos below for more information on what’s in store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 11, Hall 1, 9 pm:  Konrad Wiszniewski & Euan Stevenson’s 9-Piece Ensemble New Focus
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Nominated for the 2013 Scottish Album of the Year Award (SAY Award)

“Original music that exists virtually in a world of its own.”
(The Herald of Scotland, 5 Stars)

Glasgow based Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski joins forces with fellow Scottish compatriot pianist/arranger Euan Stevenson in launching their award winning, genre-bending musical adventure New Focus on Whirlwind Recordings. Featuring a unique amalgamation of classical string quartet meets jazz quartet plus harp, New Focus showcases a cinematic soundscape of through-composed melodies meeting cutting edge improvisation, drawing upon influences from across the musical spectrum. This hefty nine-piece ensemble excitedly features The Glasgow String Quartet (comprising some of the finest virtuosos from The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Scotland’s leading string quartet), alongside Stevenson on piano leading the first call drum and bass team of Alyn Cosker (drums) and Michael Janisch (bass), Wiszniewski at the helm on saxophones, and Alina Bzhezhinska on harp.

Stevenson’s tight knit arrangements offer concise, pleasing trajectories, preserving the original sentiment of each composition, enriching them with ever changing soundscapes of strings and harp. Wiszniewski’s tone (capable of sounding as sweet as Getz or as plaintive as Coltrane) tells parables of Polish ancestry while the arranger’s own crystalline piano laments for pit closures in a northern mining town.This is music at its resourceful best; borrowing the harmonies and sonorities of the classical world, the tone poetry of Scottish Folk, the directness of pop, and all mixed with the bustling edginess of jazz rhythms and improvisation. Duke Ellington famously quipped that there were only two categories of music – good and bad. New Focus most definitely belongs to the former.

This concert features Konrad Wiszniewski on saxophones, Euan Stevenson on Piano, Michael Janisch on Double Bass, Andrew Bain on Drums + String Quartet (TBC) and Harp (TBC).

OCT 11, Hall 1, 10 pm: Phil Robson’s IMS Quintet ft Stan Sulzmann play The Immeasurable Code
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS TRIPLE BILL CONCERT

The multi-award winning guitar wizard Phil Robson (Parliamentary Jazz Musician of the Year) is one of the UK’s most celebrated jazz musicians and leads an all-star quintet performing music from The Immeasurable Code, his debut WWR release.   In this line up is the award winning flautist Gareth Lockrane alongside one of the most iconic saxophonists in UK history, Stan Sulzmann, and also features the world renowned virtuoso drumming of Cuban-Born Ernesto Simpson (Richard Bona, Gonzalo Rubalcaba) and WWR’s own founder and first-call bassist Michael Janisch. This is a transatlantic supergroup not to be missed and a perfect way to end day two of the WWR festival.

Phil Robson’s IMS (Instant Message Service) Quintet, were captured live during their inaugural January 2011 European tour. The band gelled instantly and within a few concerts sounded as though it had been together for years, with each player having enough space in Robson’s compositions to bring their unique qualities to the overall sound (a consistent feature of Robson’s approach over the years with his other bands including Partisans and 6 Strings & the Beat). The compositions reflect the breadth of Robson’s experience & influences, made cohesive by the depth of feeling of the pieces and playing, with a love of groove at the center. The album also contains some rarely captured (and amazing) examples of Mark Turner playing the soprano sax as well as, of course, his formidable searing tenor playing.

This concert features Robson on guitars, Stan Sulzmann – saxophones, Gareth Lockrane – flutes, Michael Janisch – bass and Ernesto Simpson – drums.

 

OCT 12, Hall 1, 2 pm, Double Bill:

Robert Mitchell plays ‘The Glimpse’ ft Eska Mtungwazi | Romain Pilon Album Launch for Colorfield featuring Logan Richardson PURCHASE TICKETS

Robert Mitchell, one of the UK’s most celebrated pianists, performs music from The Glimpse, a left hand only album. French guitarist Romain Pilon celebrates the release of his WWR debut Colorfield, featuring US Altoist Logan Richardson.

2 pm: Robert Mitchell performs music from his ground-breaking WWR album The Glimpse
ft special guest Eska Mtungwazi PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS DOUBLE BILL CONCERT

Robert Mitchell, one of the UK’s most celebrated pianists has recently released a truly groundbreaking solo piano album, The Glimpse, using only his left hand.  Listen in as he performs music that celebrates left-hand only piano playing and what he’s learned from researching its history.  “The piano allows this single hand music to be possible – but I am sure it is not alone in this respect. Given the circumstances – and hugely determined individuals or groups – other instruments have been, or will go through the same process. The concepts surrounding the normal or correct way to play take ages to arrive at. But I don’t think they will ever stop evolving. And certainly – creativity doesn’t listen. It can illuminate the most impossible of situations – and bestow the most graceful solution. In its own time! I look forward to doing more in this area. And to many more fascinating conversations that have resulted from this project.” – Robert Mitchell

The very special guest for this concert will be one of the most gifted vocalists/performers in the world today.  Zimbabwe-born and London-raised artist/composer/producer ESKA comes from a rich musical background. As a vocalist, her legendary virtuosity has attracted the attentions of a host of acclaimed artists – the likes of Tony Allen and David Sylvian, to name a few.

 

 

Her vocal arrangements have credits on 3 Mercury-nominated albums. For her solo project, she chose to work alongside artist-producer Matthew Herbert. As a conductor, ESKA has led a 150-voice choir for Bobby McFerrin and is Music Director for Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble (University of London) who have performed with Matthew Herbert’s Big Band and alongside ESKA on her sold-out full length debut of English Skies at Queen Elizabeth Hall. ESKA’s latest Gatekeeper EP is released on her Earthling label. (photo by Rebecca Bellantoni)

This concert will feature Robert Mitchell on solo grand piano and Eska Mtungwazi, voice

 

OCT 12, Hall 1, 3:20 pm: Romain Pilon Album Launch Concert for Colorfield featuring alto saxophonist Logan Richardson PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS DOUBLE BILL CONCERT

“Romain Pilon plays with a trueness that is missing in a lot of guitarist today. A knowledge of the past, and a foot in the future. Lyrical and conscience of pure sound.” Mike MORENO

“Romain Pilon is a guitarist full of surprises. He has a flawless technique and a great harmonic sense. He is someone to keep an eye on.”
Lionel LOUEKE

Accolades like the above do not come easy and French guitarist Romain Pilon is known in his homeland as one of the most talented young musicians of his generation, and comes to the UK to celebrate the release of his debut for WWR titled Colorfield (released Sept 9 2013) which features an all-star cast of Walter Smith III on tenor saxophone, Michael Janisch on double bass and Jamire Williams on drums.  For this performance he has called upon special guest alto saxophonist Logan Richardson who has been regarded by many as one of the most distinct global voices in contemporary improvised music. On double bass is Michael Janisch from the album and newcomer Gautier Garrigue on drums, one of the most celebrated young drummers from Paris. Book early for this show as it will sell out fast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCT 12,  Hall 1, 4:45 pm, Double Bill:

Patrick Cornelius Official European Album Launch for Infinite Blue ft. Jason Rebello | Jim Hart’s The Cloudmakers Trio   PURCHASE TICKETS

A potent double bill of some of the most in demand musicians of their generation from both the NYC and London scenes, known for their innate virtuosity and wide-reaching compositional skills.

4:45: Patrick Cornelius Album Launch for Infinite Blue ft. Jason Rebello
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 Infinite Blue is the second album for Whirlwind Recordings by the award-winning New York-based Saxophonist and Composer Patrick Cornelius, and represents the refinement of melodic concepts that he has been exploring for years (and over the course of 3 previous solo albums). The idea of telling a story through the contour of melody and the color of orchestration continues to fascinate the young bandleader. Every song written for this new release tells a discrete story, either from the composer’s personal experience or some corner of his imagination. To bring such specifically programmatic music to life, he enlisted an A-List of musicians with a keen ability to accompany and improvise with an ear towards musical narrative, including pianist Frank Kimbrough, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, trombonist Nick Vayenas, bassist Michael Janisch and drummer Jeff Ballard.

The special guest in Patrick’s quartet is multi-Grammy Award Winning pianist and composer Jason Rebello, who’s one of finest musicians to ever come from Britain.  He has performed with Peter Gabriel, Phil Colliins, Wayne Shorter, Jeff Beck and Sting as a result of his uncanny technique, diversity and adaptability as well as leading his own award-winning ensembles. 
This concert features Patrick Cornelius, Jason Rebello (piano), Michael Janisch (double bass) & Andrew Bain (drums).

Oct 12, Hall 1, 6:15 pm: The Cloudmakers Trio  PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS DOUBLE BILL CONCERT

The Cloudmakers Trio represents the culmination of nearly seven years of musical growth between three of the finest in demand younger generation musicians currently working on the international jazz, improvised and creative music scene. Their enviable resumes boast a collective experience working across all genres of music while enjoying first call status to the stars. And they have no boundaries– everyone from Wynton Marsallis to Evan Parker to Sir John Dankworth to Outhouse Ruhabi to Lee Konitz to Stan Sulzman have hired these popular musicians for their virtuosity and unbridled creativity, securing their reputations as guiding lights amongst musicians of their generation.

Consisting of leader Jim Hart on vibraphone, Michael Janisch on double bass and Dave Smith on drums, the trio now serves as the focus of Hart’s new compositions and arrangements. The Cloudmakers Trio officially formed in July, 2010 and embarked on a critically acclaimed inaugural tour around the UK (which included Ralph Alessi on trumpet) and fortunately the music on Live at the Pizza Express, their debut album, was captured live during this tour.

The Cloudmakers Trio aspires its sounds to defy category and draw influences from all of humanity’s music traditions, while maintaining a devotion to raw energy, in the moment risk taking, a dedication to groove and rhythm, strong melody and above all transcending themselves and the listener through their music to that magical place that can only exist when musicians of this level come together to perform with true empathy.

 

 

OCT 12 Hall 2, 8:00 pm, Double Bill

Mike Gibbs 12 Piece Ensemble Album Launch | Nia Lynn’s ‘Bannau Trio’ Album Launch for Point of View ft Norma Winstone PURCHASE TICKETS

A twelve piece ensemble, a contemporary chamber jazz trio, masters of music meet some of the most important younger generation musicians in a concert billing not to be missed.

8:00 pm: Mike Gibbs 12 piece Ensemble Album Launch for Mike Gibbs + 12 play Gil Evans
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“The first Gil Evans music I ever heard was hi Gil Evans + Ten album – that was in the late 1950s – and it’s still reverberating. This selection includes adaptions of some favorite Gil arrangements, and a few of my own explorations.” – Mike Gibbs, 2013

Mike Gibbs is arguably one of the most important living composers and arrangers working in the jazz and improvised music idiom. He has worked with legendary artists including Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, John Schofield and Peter Gabriel in a career that spans four decades. The 76 year old Gibbs, according to The Guardian “still sparks subtly hamonized thrills from a jazz orchestra in ways that few can,” and it’s with great excitement Whirlwind Recordings has been able to capture Mike Gibbs + 12 play Gil Evans performing arrangements of Gil Evans material, adapted to mark the celebration of Evan’s 100th anniversary. There’s also a helping of Gibb’s originals and works by some of his favorite composers including Carla Blaey and Thelonious Monk. The 12-piece ensemble recorded all the material on the album in just one day and features an eclectic mix of some of the most important improvisers living in the UK, with each track featuring at least one soloist from the 12 piece.

This concert features:  Mike Gibbs – Conductor, Arranger & Composer, Hans Koller – Piano, Julian Siegel – Tenor & Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet, 
Finn Peters – Alto Saxophone, Flutes, Lluis Mather – Tenor Saxophone, Clarinets Percy Pursglove – Trumpet, Robbie Robson – Trumpet, Joe Aukland – Trumpet, Jim Rattigan – French horn, Mark Nightingale – Trombone, Sarah Williams – Bass trombone, tuba, 
Michael Janisch – Double bass, Andrew Bain – Drums

OCT 12, Hall 2, 9:30 pm: Nia Lynn’s ‘Bannau Trio’ Album Launch for Point of View ft. Norma Winstone PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS DOUBLE BILL CONCERT

Nia Lynn is one of the UK’s most creative vocalists and emotive songwriters. Tonight she launches her debut WWR release Point of View which features her contemporary chamber-jazz group Bannau Trio (with flautist Gareth Lockrane and pianist Ross Stanley). The very special guest (who also appears on the album) is the one and only Norma Winstone, one of the UK’s musical treasures whose career has spanned over forty years at the forefront of European contemporary music.

“Fearlessly interactive, a real musicians singer” Pete Churchill

“Norma Winstone is one of the glories of Contemporary Jazz” –Jazz Journal

This concert will feature: Nia Lynn (vocals), Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Ross Stanley (grand piano) & special guest Norma Winstone (vocals).

More information on this special release concert coming soon.

 

October 12, Hall 1, Triple Bill:

Zhenya Strigalev’s Smiling Organizm Quartet ft. Jason Yarde | Andre Canniere’s Coalescence Album Launch | The Aruan Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet ft. Greg Osby play Banned in London PURCHASE TICKETS

A triple bill for the stars and a huge closer for the first WWR Records Festival. Featuring alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, American trumpeter Andre Canniere and international collaboration Aruán Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet feat. Greg Osby.

8:00 pm. Zhenya Strigalev’s Smiling Organizm Quartet ft. Jason Yarde.
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THIS TRIPLE BILL CONCERT

Alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev has fire, grace and edgy attitude. A young virtuoso forging an increasingly high profile international presence, Strigalev has cut a dynamic path between the London and New York jazz scenes. He’s worked with some of today’s most forward-thinking musicians such as Chris Dave, Eric Harland, Larry Grenadier, Liam Noble and appeared at many of the world’s leading jazz festivals, performing extensively in Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, France and Britain. Now with four solo albums under his belt, Zhenya Strigalev reached a new level of artistic maturity on his superb new solo album Smiling Organizm.

Composer, arranger, producer, musical director and saxophonist Jason Yarde writes music that has been described as powerful, spiritual, evocative, rhapsodic, hair-raising and formidable. He composes across various styles (progressive jazz, classical, hip-hop, fusion, free improvisation, broken beats, R&B, reggae, soul, song writing) and his potential and originality is such that he was nominated for the Bird Award at the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival and for the Jazz on 3 Innovation Award for the 2005 and 2006 BBC Jazz Awards.
This concert features Strigalev and Yarde on Alto Saxophone, Mark Lewandoski (bass) and Ben Browns (drums)

OCT 12, Hall 1, 9 pm: Andre Canniere Group presents: Coalesence Album Launch
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American trumpeter Andre Canniere has established himself as a leading figure on the UK jazz scene and is arguably one of the finest composers of his generation. His debut WWR album Forward Space received a rare five-star review from The Guardian and a Mercury Prize recommendation. Tonight he launches his second WWR album Coalescence with his UK group of all-star musicians.

Canniere’s writing is typified by a keen knowledge of the trends in contemporary music and displays his powerful but melodic approach to improvising, as well as memorable themes that often cross the traditional boundaries of genre, infusing an ear pleasing mix of jazz and classical styles while drawing inspiration from folk, rock and pop music.

This concert features Ivo Neame (piano), Hannes Riepler (guitar), Ryan Treblicock (double bass), & Jon Scott (drums).

“Trumpeter Andre Canniere is yet another young musician who seeks to make music that not only draws on the worlds of Jazz, but also of Rock and elsewhere… the compositions are a far cry from the staid template contained on many Jazz records… harmonic drama and consistently shifting rhythmic sequences.” -Cadence Magazine.

‘Exhilarating’ The Guardian ★★★★★

OCT 12, 10 pm, Hall 1: The Aruan Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet ft Greg Osby
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The Aruán Ortiz & Michael Janisch Quintet is an international collaboration of the highest order.  The two leaders have performed at the forefront of the contemporary jazz scene for the last decade with artists such as Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Dianne Reeves, Terry Lynn-Carrington & Wallace Rooney. The quintet features one of the world’s most celebrated creative musicians, special guest alto saxophonist Greg Osby, alongside perennial award-winning Spanish trumpeter Raynald Colom and drummer Marc Ayza (one of Spain’s top musicians). The AO/MJ Quintet will be performing music from their debut album Banned in London which has been heralded in the press as one of the best live releases of the past year. It is only appropriate, therefore, that this supergroup closes the first WWR Festival with a bang. 

 

‘It could turn out that the best live jazz album released in the US this year will be one recorded at a British pizza joint in 2011.’
JazzTimes Magazine

‘A scintillating Quintet’ 4 1/2 Stars, Downbeat Magazine

‘A five-star transatlantic group… it’s jazz as a truly global artform’
BBC Radio Three