Pre order ‘Shadow Figures’ today!

Philipp Wachsmann - violin
Neil Metcalfe - flute
Emil Karlsen - drums
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Pierre Alexandre Tremblay - electronics

11/08/2024

I’m pleased to announce that the next release from my trio ‘Spaces Unfolding’ (Neil Metcalfe - flute and Phil Wachsmann - violin) is coming out on Bead Records 15th November. This time we are joined by Pierre Alexandre Tremblay, a practitioner offering multiple dialogues between instruments and electronics. ‘Shadow Figures’ is a work dedicated to exploring our relationship with technology.

more information to follow soon

Check out my latest newsletter for updates on my recent musical happenings which includes documentation of new works.

I was honoured to be asked by Mark Wastell to contribute to a concert celebrating the great drummer John Stevens who’s passing marks 30 years this year.

I performed in a trio with vocalist Maggie Nicols (who was a part of one of the early formations of Spontaneous Music Ensemble) and Ed Jones (who played in one of Stevens’ last groups).

Adding to the history I was also fortunate to play on Stevens’ original launcher bass drum, used on pioneering recordings such as ‘Karyobin’.

A fantastic celebration of one of the real pioneers of this music.

Also one the bill was a group by John Butcher, Mark Wastell, Dominic Lash, Olie Brice and Jamie Coleman.

Other recent performances includes a trio with Federico Reuben and James Mainwaring + various appearances for Leeds Jazz Festival with The Exu and other groups.

Release announcement - Action Theory

I’m happy to announce the release of ‘Action Theory’, the debut by a trio which besides myself features double- bassist John Edwards, and Dominic Lash on electric guitar.

The album was came out on Dominic’s Spoonhunt label just a few days ago with CDs to arrive any minute.

We will be launching the album at Hundred Years Gallery (London) 11th May - it would be good to see you there!

"An information-rich journey full of lightning-swift interactions and rapidly changing moods, ranging from quiet, insectoid clatter to sudden irruptions of boiling energy." - Daniel Spicer, Jazzwise

The first quarter of 2024 has been rather eventful with both concert activities and documentation of new work.

Feel free to read my latest newsletter with information on said activities also including upcoming concert announcements featuring Ed Jones and Maggie Nicols to mention some.

Spaces Unfolding + Pierre Alexandre Tremblay

Just got news that PRS Foundation will be funding my trio Spaces Unfolding’s next album titled Shadow Figures! The trio has been active for a couple of years now and it’s been fantastic to perform regularly alongside the great Neil Metcalfe on flute, and violinist Phil Wachsmann. We’ve really evolved as a group and this is definitely the right time to document where we’re at.

We will however not be recording as a trio, but joined by the one and only Pierre Alexandre Tremblay, this time doing live processing and modular synth. We first met via Alex Bonney on a very enjoyable recording session back in 2021 (which culminated in ‘The Undanced Dance’ - BEAD 44) and have since stayed in touch performing in various other improvised situations.

I‘m thrilled to have this great group of people as part of this new release which wouldn’t be possible without the generous support from PRS Foundation!

The album is scheduled for release on Bead Records autumn 2024

3/01/24

I recently had the pleasure of contributing to a feature on Bead Records in the latest issue of The Wire.

There's also a complementary playlist featuring works stretching from 1988 to 2023 with reviews of albums by John Butcher, Paul Dunmall, GushWachs, Mark Sanders, Pierre Alexandre Tremblay ++

Thanks to Julian Cowley for making it all happen!

“A taste of that amalgam of inquisitiveness and constructive energy, imagination and collaborative spirit that pervades Bead’s compact discography.” - Julian Cowley

27/10/2023

Had a busy October performing at various UK venues and festivals including Marsden Jazz Fest and Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music with both new and previous collaborators.

The month was crowned off with the performance of Chris Cundy’s piece ‘A Sound Map of The Roman Bath’s’, a site-specific work exploring spatial audio, poetry, cello, violin, Japanese flutes, electronics, bass clarinet and percussion, reacting to the acoustics of the original Roman Baths.

Also, just uploaded to Youtube, a trio performance with Ted Moore (laptop) and Pierre Alexandre Tremblay (bass/electronics) recorded at AME in Huddersfield 18th June 2022

Had a lovely time talking to BBC 3/Corey Mwamba about the Leeds Improvised music scene and Bead Records.

Alongside the interview was plays of various recordings from the Leeds scene and beyond, including my trio with John Butcher and Dominic Lash.

Check out the interview here