Saturday January 22nd 2011

& the Instant Message Quintet featuring Mark Turner

Phil Robson - guitar

Mark Turner - sax

Michael Janisch – bass

Gareth Lockrane - flute

Ernesto Simpson – drums

Phil Robson has won many awards, and fronted

many innovative projects. We're fortunate that with

this one he's bringing the remarkable New York

based saxist, Mark Turner. Internationally one of the

seriously acclaimed saxophone voices among the

recent generation, Turner's playing displays his

major influences - Coltrane and Warne Marsh – with

a technical brilliance that extends the saxophone

range effortlessly into the high altissimo register –

harmonically fluid and rhythmically beautiful

improvisation. The talents of Gareth Lockrane and

Michael Janisch are both well known to Sheffield

audiences but watch out for Ernesto Simpson, a

Cuban drummer with a strong reputation on the NY

jazz scene for his powerful, innovative style

youngest band-leader in the Vancouver International Jazz

Festival's history. Moving to London at the age 17, he was immediately absorbed into the UK scene, performing with

the likes of Courtney Pine, Guy Barker, Jazz Jamaica and

John Dankworth. As co-leader of the young jazz sensation

Empirical, he spent two years enjoying the kind of

international success that UK jazz musicians haven't

enjoyed for years.

vocalised tone” John Fordham – The Guardian

“sounds like a mixture of Freddie Hubbard, Booker Little

and Terence Blanchard” John Murphy –JazzTimes

“an acrobatic solo displayer, cutting and fiery, and certainly

not afraid of extended bouts of self-expression” Martin

Ross Stanley – piano

Chris Hill – bass

Dylan Howe - drums

quartet, featuring the best young players from the London

jazz scene. Returning here to the Coltrane influenced quartet

sound, they use original compositions plus arrangements from Howe's recent projects - Bowie's Berlin trilogy, Larry Young,

Stravinsky.
“A superb player" The Observer "The best neo-bop group in

the country" London Evening Standard

"…knows exactly how the dynamics and drama of this idiom

are supposed to work, and proves himself to be a

sophisticated composer." John Fordham – The Guardian

"Searing modal hard bop … playing scorching originals and

drawing on the spirit of classic 60’s Blue Note" The Times,

Top Five Jazz

"an audacious example of cross-pollination…

Dylan Howe is a cultured drummer who enjoys

leaping into the unknown" Clive Davis - The Times

scenes, is undoubtedly among the current top British jazz

trumpeters. This project is a history of nearly 100 years of jazz trumpet, told through compositions written by the great players, Louis

Armstrong, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke, Roy Eldridge,

Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown, Tom Harrell, Kenny Wheeler

and more.

and possessing a beautiful sound in both his

instruments” Crescendo Magazine

one of the most in-demand young saxophonists in London.

He leads a truly improvising ensemble, which forms the ideal

context his own playing, reflecting his enthusiasm for Joe

Henderson.
"his love of an elegant melody is apparent throughout, his light but strong, warbling, slightly smoky tenor sound perfectly gauged to bring

out his tunes' freshness, grace and vitality"

Peter King – alto sax

Ian Price – tenor sax

Simon Thorpe – bass

Tristan Banks - drums

Quentin Collins - trumpet

(1955–2008) was lauded for his melodicism, rhythmic

sophistication, ability to assimilate a broad variety of

musical
styles and strong spiritual leanings. In his final

years he was a friend and inspiration to his touring

companion, John Donaldson.

Working in the San Francisco Bay area from 1982-93,

Donaldson played with many local notables. Since his return

from California he has toured with dozens of premier league British

musicians. On this occasion he is joined by Peter King on

alto as part of a very strong sextet.
"With remarkably little publicity or fuss, John Donaldson has

emerged as one of Britain’s most exciting contemporary jazz

pianists." Dave Gelly – The Observer

"One of the great piano players of recent British jazz"

Joe Locke – vibes

Geoffrey Keezer - piano

players, all band leaders in their own right but committed to

creating a three way dialogue of captivating, immersive

music.

Locke and recent Grammy nominee Geoffrey Keezer, the

peerless piano phenomenon now living in California, along

with the UK's Garland on saxes and bass clarinet.  After a

gap of several years running their respective bands they are

re-united and are currently recording their new album which

will be released in Spring 2011.

Jasper Hoiby – bass

Rob Barron – piano

Jon Scott - drums

boundaries between accessible tune-led music, heavy

grooves and improvising of the highest order. Tight group

interplay and a strong sense of song-like compositions show a deep respect for folk, world music and funk. Waldmann delivers

with a captivating warm tone on both soprano and tenor

saxes, full of sophisticated rhythmic undercurrents

and thematic narratives.
“One of the most assured and melodically potent

debuts of 2010” Jazzwise

“Kairos 4TET mixes group-sensitive and

freewheeling jazz improv and memorable themes

with an elan that’s likely to put it on a lot people’s

“rising UK stars” list this year" The Guardian

Larry Bartley – bass