LIAM NOBLE'S ROMANCE AMONG THE FISHES

JULIAN ARGUELLES' PARTITA

>>TOUR DATES OCT 2006

Liam Noble piano
Phil Robson guitar
John Hebert bass
Tom Rainey drums

double bill with JULIAN ARGUELLES TRIO

Julian Arguelles saxes
John Hebert bass
Tom Rainey drums

DOWNLOAD PRESS INFORMATION (.PDF)

FROM ROMANCE AMONG THE FISHES

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - JITTERS

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - ENCHANTE

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - ROMANCE AMONG THE FISHES

FROM PARTITA

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - A WARM WINTER COAT OF SPRUCE

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - EVAN'S FREEDOM PASS

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE - PEACE FOR D

“The artificial divisions set up between “European” and “American” jazz are blown apart by carefully crafted collaborations like Romance Among The Fishes. Where the fusion of Ken Vandermark with Norway’s Atomic explores the fiery side of jazz, this four-way collaboration investigates a cooler but no less fascinating aspect. All praise too to Basho Music, rapidly emerging as one of the UK's most dynamic organisations in promoting and recording contemporary jazz” allaboutjazz.com

This tour will promote two albums – Liam Noble’s Romance Amongst the Fishes (SRCD13-2), released on Basho Records and launched at the Purcell Room in London at the 2005 London Jazz Festival, and Julian Arguelles’s Partita (SRCD 17-2) to be released this autumn. The tour will be supported with a full PR and marketing campaign.
Both albums were recorded in New York and continue a constant theme at Basho of collaborations between British and North American players. Liam Noble’s Romance Among the Fishes, recorded in August 2004 (with Phil Robson, Drew Gress and Tom Rainey), came out of a commission for the 2004 Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The music demonstrates Liam Noble’s highly original approach to composition. Tom Rainey’s highly original percussive style and Drew Gress’s virtuosic and responsive bass playing were Liam’s inspiration for the work. With his long-term associate guitarist Phil Robson, whose versatility complements Liam’s inventiveness as an improvising pianist, the quartet have created pieces that demonstrate a strong musical empathy between players whose backgrounds and influences are very diverse. The music has developed a style and energy of its own since its original airing at the Cheltenham Festival where John Fordham described it in the following way:
'The sharp-end American bass/drums duo of New York downtowners Drew Gress and Tom Rainey were mixed into another cocktail on Monday, playing the music of the British pianist Liam Noble, with Phil Robson on guitar...the percussively algebraic finale Jitters brought inventive collective jittering of a clarity, focus and density that sounded like the music of regular partners'. John Fordham, The Guardian
www.liamnoble.co.uk

www.julianarguelles.com

LIAM NOBLE
After studying music at Oxford University and the postgraduate course at the Guildhall, Noble became the regular pianist with Stan Sulzmann (in both duo and quartet settings) on John Taylor’s recommendation. He went on to work in the bands of Anita Wardell, Harry Beckett, Tim Whitehead and John Stevens as well as recording and touring with cult minimalist composer Moondog. During this period, he also performed with John Taylor (as part of Stan Sulzmann’s two piano quintet), Kenny Wheeler and Lol Coxhill.

Three years after leaving the Guildhall, Noble recorded the solo piano album “Close Your Eyes”, which featured free improvisations, compositions and interpretations of tunes by (amongst others) Ornette Coleman, Annette Peacock and Richard Rodgers. In Jazz Journal,

Richard Palmer referred to him as “…a writer of considerable idiomatic and emotional range …he knows the instrument’s pantheon from Tatum to Taylor…”

In 1997, he joined the Bobby Wellins Quartet, a band that combines a standard repertoire with a contemporary sense of interaction. A CD, “The Best is Yet to Come” is available on Jazzizit Records. He is also a member of the Christine Tobin Band and the Randy Brecker English Sextet, with whom he recently performed at Cheltenham Festival. A duo project with Paul Clarvis playing music from West Side Story combines well-known material with a “stream of consciousness” improvisatory angle. In April 2002, a commission from Birmingham Jazz resulted in a song cycle based on Japanese Death Poetry featuring the contrasting voices of Kelsey Michael (vocalist with the High Llammas) and Christine Tobin, with Dave Wickins and Chris Biscoe. Noble plays keyboards and samples throughout, marking a new foray into electronica inspired by artists such as Aphex Twin and Arto Lindsay. He is also a regular member of the Julian Siegel Group and appears on Siegel’s much acclaimed recent album “ Close Up ” (Sound Recordings - mactwo).

In 2002 Noble released his highly acclaimed quintet album IN THE MEANTIME (Basho Records). His compositions, highly individual, quirky, sometimes humorous or intensely lyrical demonstrate his continuing interest in combining unorthodox structural design with improvisation using an ensemble of highly contrasting players. Focusing on the multi-reed front line of Stan Sulzmann and Chris Biscoe (on the rarely heard alto clarinet), and the rhythm section of Paul Clarvis and Mick Hutton.

JULIAN ARGUELLES– saxophonist and composer

Saxophonist Julian Argüelles was born near Birmingham in 1966 and since the age of 18 he has lived in London where he gained recognition as a creative and original musician, at the age of 20 he joined the much acclaimed band Loose Tubes. He has toured and recorded throughout the world with leading musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Holland, Django Bates, John Scofield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Bill Frisell, and John Taylor. He is the leader of his own groups and he has recorded six CDs as a leader, these recordings and his compositions have won many prestigious awards. Julian has recently been commissioned to write for the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, his octet (by Birmingham Jazz), Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, Walsall Youth Jazz Orchestra, The Fenland Youth Symphony Orchestra, NDR (North German Radio Big Band) and Royal Academy Of Music. In 1999 Julian was the recipient of the Jazz Composers Alliance Composition Award from the USA.

In March 2004 Julian released his second CD for Provocateur Records, it is called “As above so below” and it features the Trinity College String Ensemble, wind quartet and rhythm section. A recording in New York with Tom and Michael will be released next year with Provocateur Records.

PHIL ROBSON– guitarist, composer

Born in Derby, UK 1970, guitarist Phil Robson had already enjoyed an exciting career from the age of 14 onwards playing in his home town with such visiting musicians as John Etheridge and Bheki Msleku as well as with his clarinettist father, Trevor Robson. Moving to London at the age of 18, he attended the Guildhall School of Music being one of the youngest students ever to do the post graduate jazz course at that time. Photo by Gee Vaucher

Phil has worked with Christine Tobin, "Rare Groove" stars Big Jon Patton and Charles Earland, Billy Hart, James Genus, Mark Turner, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Mike Gibbs, Peter Herbert, Tim Garland, Django Bates, Tom Rainey, Stan Sulzmann, Mornington Lockett, Gerard Prescencer, Bobby Wellins, Drew Gress, Alec Dankworth, Iain Ballamy, Jean Toussaint, Wayne Krantz, Gary Husband, Julian & Steve Arguelles, Mike Figgis (film director), BBC bigband etc.

Has played in/at: Berlin, Bulgaria, New York City, South Africa, Syria, Yemen, Ireland, India, Sudan, Malta, Finland, Austria, France, Holland, Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Brecon Jazz festival, Appleby Jazz festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Glasgow Jazz festival, Edinburgh, Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz café, Pizza xpress (Dean St.), The Vortex & most UK venues etc.

Has appeared on: Radio 3 - ‘Jazz notes’, ‘Jazz on 3’, ‘Jazz Line Up’, Radio 4 - ‘Loose Ends, Jazz FM, BBC2 - ‘Jazz 606’, Channel 4’ - ‘The Late Show’, RTE 1 - ‘Pat Kenny Show’.

In 1997 Phil won BT "Best soloist of the year " award presented by John Dankworth. In 1998 Perrier Young Jazz award for the best instrumentalist of the year.

Phil co-leads ‘Partisans’ with Julian Siegel (featuring Gene Calderazzo, Thad Kelly). Partisans played at Cheltenham festival 2003 with Wayne Krantz & the gig was recorded by Radio 3’s ‘jazz line up’. Chris Parker & John Fordham hailed the gig as the highlight of the festival.

he leads the Phil Robson Trio (featuring Billy Hart, James Genus) and the Phil Robson Octet (featuring Christine Tobin, Jason Yarde, Karen Street, Julian Siegel, Gene Calderazzo, Thebe Lipere, Steve Watts.

Commissions include Birmingham Jazz in 1999 – Phil Robson Octet - "Beyond the net curtains" Derby Jazz in 2000 – Derwent Suite - PR Octet with the addition of Indian percussionists, the ‘Surtal drummers’ plus a 22 piece steel pan band called "The Pantastics"! Phil has been a member of the BBC Radio Big Band since May 2002 during which time they have worked with Patti Austin, Jiggs Whigham, Giavanni Hidalgo, Rufus Reid, Vince Mendoza, Madeline Bell, Horatio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez, John Riley, Barbara Dennalin, Anne Hampton Callaway, Mark Murphy, Georgy Fame, Martin Taylor, Michael McDonald & many more.

JOHN HEBERT– bassist/ composer

John Hebert moved to New York City from New Orleans in 1994, where he has become a highly in demand jazz bassist. He has worked with world class musicians Paul Bley, Lee Konitz, Blue Note recording artist Andrew Hill, ECM recording artist Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Grammy Winner Maria Schneider, Grammy nominated Fred Hersch, John Abercrombie, Blue Note recording artist Greg Osby, New York Voices, Tim Berne, Mat Maneri and many others. John continues to tour extensively in the USA, Europe and Canada performing in major jazz festivals and
venues. John is also a proud endorser of Presonus Audio Electronics, Inc. and Thomastik-Infeld Strings.

“A ubiquitous figure on the downtown music scene in recent years, Hebert is a key figure…and a formidable soloist, as he shows on “Effluence” and “Cascade”… All About Jazz 2005
“Hebert has everything one would want in a bassist, excellent time and tone, sensitivity as an accompanist, and good solos.” Paul Combs 2001

TOM RAINEY- percussionist

Percussionist Tom Rainey was born in Los Angeles, California in 1957. Since moving to New York City in 1979 he has performed at festivals and clubs throughout North America and Europe with a wide range of artists, including John Abercrombie, Ray Anderson, Tim Berne, Jane Ira Bloom, Ted Curson, Marc Ducret, George Gruntz, Mark Helias, Fred Hersch, Andy Laster, Joe Lovano, Carmen McRae, Mike Nock, Simon Nabatov, New and Used, Matthias Schubert, Tom Varner, WDR Big Band, Ken Werner and Denny Zeitlen.

Rainey received an National Endowment for the Arts grant to compose and perform a concert of music for percussion and drums featuring Dave Samuels and Arto Tuncboyaci. Currently he is busy with the Fred Hersch Trio, Tim Berne's Paraphrase, and numerous others.

'The sharp-end American bass/drums duo of New York downtowners Drew Gress and Tom Rainey were mixed into another cocktail on Monday, playing the music of the British pianist Liam Noble, with Phil Robson on guitar...the percussively algebraic finale Jitters brought inventive collective jittering of a clarity, focus and density that sounded like the music of regular partners'.
John Fordham, The Guardian

“A highly inventive and thoughtful musician, Noble graces any band he joins, while his own music combines characterful composing with fresh, risk-embracing improvisation..…” “…a brilliant pianist…who hardly plays a solo without at least one turn of phrase that brings you to the edge of your seat”.
John Fordham, The Guardian

“Liam Noble is quietly establishing himself as a major voice".
Yorkshire Post 4*

“…proves that the spirit of free improvisation is not dead, but has been merely sleeping….Inspirational". Chrissie Murray, Ronnie Scott's Magazine

“An articulate, accomplished affair”
Jazzwise 4*

www.liamnoble.co.uk

"one is left almost speechless with admiration"
THE INDEPENDENT 2004

“Phil Robson is one of a crop of young UK jazz guitarists who combine the technical expertise of classic beboppers such as Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell with the bite and muscle of a post-unk generation raised on Hendrix, Scofield and Metheny.
… He has a varied repertoire of multicultural materials far more deeply rooted in Britain than in Philadelphia or New York.”
John Fordham, The Guardian

“Rainey’s playing affirms his status as an undersung fiery poet of the drums.”
JAZZ TIMES April 2002