Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Fresh free improv combinations erupting from Matt Davis’ prepared trumpet, sparring with Rachel Musson’s tenor blasts and the delirious percussive strokes of Mark Sanders. A meeting of accomplished minds, reconstructing swing and skronk in unmissable, unrepeatable moments FFO: Pat Thomas, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall."
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A gig on Thursday 8th January. The event starts at 19:30.
A concert of Rachel Musson (saxophones), Mark Sanders (percussion) and Matt Davis (trumpet).
Rachel Musson is a saxophonist, improviser and composer based in the UK. She is a current (2024-2027) recipient of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer award. She has spent the last decade immersed in improvised music, and has also gradually been introducing composed elements into her work, drawing on text, field recordings and processing sounds. She is involved with a variety of improvisation projects, and works regularly with Mark Sanders, Pat Thomas, Hannah Marshall, Julie Kjaer, Corey Mwamba, Olie Brice, Alex Ward, Alex Hawkins amongst others. She features on several releases, including a nonet featuring her composition 'I Went This Way' (577 Records), two with Shifa, feat. Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders, (577 Records), one with Mark Sanders and John Edwards (Two Rivers Records), trio with Liam Noble and Mark Sanders (Babel), and Corey Mwamba (Takuroku).
"A free-improviser sensitive to melody-like narrative and dramatic pacing" – John Fordham, The Guardian
Mark Sanders (b. 1960), a renowned drummer /percussionist of British-Belizean heritage, has been at the forefront of improvised music worldwide for the last 30–40 years. Known for his unique playing style in the fields of Free Jazz and Free Improvisation, as well as skills and versatility in other genres, he has worked with an impressively broad range of artists. He has performed with a host of renowned improvising musicians including Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Joelle Leandre, Roswell Rudd, Myra Melford, Henry Grimes, Sylvie Courvoisier, Charles Gayle, John Butcher and Evan Parker. He has also worked with contemporary artists such as Christian Marclay, Henryk Hakensen, Sam Belinfante, as well those in the opera and classical fields such as Sarah Sarhandi/Lore Lixenberg, David Ryan and Elaine Mitchener.
Matt Davis has been active in improvised music since the mid 90’s, playing throughout Europe and Japan in many different collaborations and small and large group ensembles including Zeitkratzer and La Sospechosa dance company. He is currently based in Bristol where he regularly collaborates with, amongst others, Phil Minton, Luigi Marino and Matthew Grigg. Regular groups include Nodosus (with Angharad Davies, Dimitra Lazaridou-Chatzigoga, Dominic Lash and John Butcher) and a trio with Rachel Musson and Mark Sanders.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Rachel Musson is a saxophonist, improviser and composer based in the UK. She is a current (2024-2027) recipient of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer award. She has spent the last decade immersed in improvised music, and has also gradually been introducing composed elements into her work, drawing on text, field recordings and processing sounds. She is involved with a variety of improvisation projects, and works regularly with Mark Sanders, Pat Thomas, Hannah Marshall, Julie Kjaer, Corey Mwamba, Olie Brice, Alex Ward, Alex Hawkins amongst others. She features on several releases, including a nonet featuring her composition 'I Went This Way' (577 Records), two with Shifa, feat. Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders, (577 Records), one with Mark Sanders and John Edwards (Two Rivers Records), trio with Liam Noble and Mark Sanders (Babel), and Corey Mwamba (Takuroku).
"A free-improviser sensitive to melody-like narrative and dramatic pacing" – John Fordham, The Guardian
Mark Sanders (b. 1960), a renowned drummer /percussionist of British-Belizean heritage, has been at the forefront of improvised music worldwide for the last 30–40 years. Known for his unique playing style in the fields of Free Jazz and Free Improvisation, as well as skills and versatility in other genres, he has worked with an impressively broad range of artists. He has performed with a host of renowned improvising musicians including Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Joelle Leandre, Roswell Rudd, Myra Melford, Henry Grimes, Sylvie Courvoisier, Charles Gayle, John Butcher and Evan Parker. He has also worked with contemporary artists such as Christian Marclay, Henryk Hakensen, Sam Belinfante, as well those in the opera and classical fields such as Sarah Sarhandi/Lore Lixenberg, David Ryan and Elaine Mitchener.
Matt Davis has been active in improvised music since the mid 90’s, playing throughout Europe and Japan in many different collaborations and small and large group ensembles including Zeitkratzer and La Sospechosa dance company. He is currently based in Bristol where he regularly collaborates with, amongst others, Phil Minton, Luigi Marino and Matthew Grigg. Regular groups include Nodosus (with Angharad Davies, Dimitra Lazaridou-Chatzigoga, Dominic Lash and John Butcher) and a trio with Rachel Musson and Mark Sanders.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
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