The Phantom Ensemble feat. Chalky White

Emerging from the Bristol hiphop and jazz scenes, Phantom Ensemble combine live instrumentation from some of the city’s finest musicians with sample-based breaks reminiscent of hiphop’s golden era.

Born in 2018 from a one-off live collaboration between producer Simiah, sax player Craig Crofton and Dan Somers on keys, the mix of improvised jazz and live MPC beats blew up at Bristol’s Galimaufry, leading to a monthly residency. The trio quickly got down to recording their debut album Connections, released early in 2019.

Featuring a string of guest musicians from the Bristol jazz scene, the residency has seen Phantom Ensemble experiment with new material and expand the band to include Harriet Riley on vibraphone and percussion and Chalky White on guitar, their sound growing to encompass free-form improvisation, crafted compositions and ambient jams, with a classic hiphop backbone.

Phantom Ensemble’s album Connections was released on King Underground Records on 15 February.

Chalky White is a truly unique beat maker, guitarist and composer hailing from the South West of the UK. Having played in a broad spectrum of ensembles from a young age from Punk to Jazz, Hip-Hop to Post-Rock, he pulls all of these influences together to create music that stands up as fresh and innovative in an otherwise oversaturated musical landscape.

After working extensively on Asa’s debut album ‘Torn Together’ (released Jan 2018), he rapidly moved on to other projects releasing a collaborative album with fellow beat maker Seppa entitled ‘Bright Spots’ (released September 2018) and also featuring on Koan Sound’s ‘Polychrome’ (released December 2018). He also plays guitar as part of the Phantom Ensemble headed by UK Hip-Hop producer Simiah, fusing MPC beats and live jazz instrumentalism. His debut solo album ’Second Beach’ (released December 2018) truly shows off Chalky’s talents, an exploration of his roots on the Cornish coast. The album unfolds as a journey of lush layers and moving textures that paints a rich picture of his home town, infused with something far more ethereal.