Chris Biscoe- Band Archive - Chris Biscoe / John Edwards / Tony Marsh

Chris Biscoe/John Edwards/Tony Marsh - guests including Ben davis, Ingrid Laubrock & Evan Parker

3 musicians equally at home in contemporary jazz and improvised music present an evening of contrasts which could include a trio set, some rarely heard standards, free improvisation, jazz classics, the Chris Biscoe/Ben Davis Duo, solo spots, and the full might of the quartet - probably.

CHRIS BISCOE - alto, soprano and baritone sax, alto clarinet
JOHN EDWARDS - double bass
TONY MARSH - drums

Chris Biscoe has a long history of working with distinguished jazz composers (George Russell, Hermeto Pascoal, Chris McGregor, Kenny Wheeler, Mike Westbrook), who share an interest in mixing freedom and complex writing. His flexibility in this area has become a hallmark of his playing. Currently he can be heard with Mingus Moves, Mike Westbrook and Don Weller’s Electric Octet. His new band features Liam Noble and Pete Hurt.

John Edwards is a player of unflagging drive and imagination, whose energy and inventiveness enlivens every band he plays with. Best known for his work with Evan Parker and Peter Brotzmann, he has been in groups such as God and B-shops for the Poor. Plays with Spring Heel Jack, FunDaMental, Louis Moholo, Harry Beckett and Lol Coxhill.

Tony Marsh - Photo: Peter Symes ©

Tony Marsh came to prominence with Don Weller in Major Surgery, an innovative group which developed its compositions from improvisations, and approached fusion music from its own perspective. Since then Tony has proved his mastery of free and contemporary jazz, and the areas between. He has worked with Mike Osborne, John Surman, Evan Parker and Mike Westbrook, and plays with Chris Biscoe in Full Monte and the Harry Beckett Band.

And our guests so far (in alphabetical order)

Ben Davis is a member of the F-IRE Collective, playing in the Ingrid Laubrock Band and Jonny Phillips Oriole, and leading Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford, (CD on F-IRE label shortly). His distinctive approach to string writing, and use of the cello as a driving force in small group jazz, was also heard in his quartet and duo with Chris Biscoe. Ben has toured with Julian Joseph and Django Bates and recorded with Jamiroquai, D-Influence, Christine Tobin and Hugh Warren.

Ingrid Laubrock is a rising star of the British jazz scene. Started on piano and sang in the local choir in her native Germany. Settling in London in 1989 she took up sax and studied with Jean Toussaint and Dave Liebman. Solo albums are Who is it, Some Times and Forensic. She plays on the new album by Mercury Award nominated band Polar Bear. A member of the F-IRE Collective, she also works with Nois, Gabrielle, Siouxie and the Banshees and Liam Noble.

Evan Parker is a major innovator in the post-Coltrane generation of sax players, with an entirely personal approach on tenor sax and a unique and dramatic solo style on soprano exploiting circular breathing to create multiple lines. From his first recordings with John Stevens and Derek Bailey through work with Chris McGregor, Tony Oxley and Alex von Schlippenbach to recent tours with Kenny Wheeler and The Dedication Orchestra he has continued developing his blend of abstraction and jazz.