Chris Biscoe
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A new band bringing together a group of jazz musicians with shared experience in many fields of jazz, this band balances compositions by Chris Biscoe, Liam Noble and Pete Hurt with a mixture of the finest modern/contemporary jazz material by writers we feel a special connection with. Most are leaders and composers we have worked with: George Russell, Hermeto Pascoal, Carla Bley, Andrew Hill, Mike Westbrook and Harry Beckett. In addition there are tunes by Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy and Wayne Shorter, and re-workings of a small selection of standards.
CHRIS BISCOE - alto and soprano sax; alto clarinet
PETE HURT - tenor sax
LIAM NOBLE - piano
DAVE WHITFORD - double bass
DAVE WICKINS - drums
PETE HURT - tenor sax
LIAM NOBLE - piano
DAVE WHITFORD - double bass
DAVE WICKINS - drums
CHRIS BISCOE - alto and soprano saxes; alto clarinet
Since his first recording with Ben Sidran, Chris has worked with Chris McGregor, Kenny Wheeler, Andy Sheppard, Andrew Hill, Dewey Redman, The Dedication Orchestra, Peter Jacobsen and Didier Levallet, appearing as a featured soloist on more than 30 recordings. Currently he can be heard with the Pierre Favre's Ensemble, Harry Beckett, Tony Kofi, Mingus Moves, Full Monte, Liam Noble, Ben Davis, Mike Westbrook and Don Weller's Electric Octet. Recent major tours have seen him featured in the big bands of George Russell and Hermeto Pascoal.
Since his first recording with Ben Sidran, Chris has worked with Chris McGregor, Kenny Wheeler, Andy Sheppard, Andrew Hill, Dewey Redman, The Dedication Orchestra, Peter Jacobsen and Didier Levallet, appearing as a featured soloist on more than 30 recordings. Currently he can be heard with the Pierre Favre's Ensemble, Harry Beckett, Tony Kofi, Mingus Moves, Full Monte, Liam Noble, Ben Davis, Mike Westbrook and Don Weller's Electric Octet. Recent major tours have seen him featured in the big bands of George Russell and Hermeto Pascoal.
Reedsman Biscoe attained a particularly urgent state, delivering several magisterial solos, visibly wired by the lust for winkling out fresh alto saxophone sounds, bending, popping and filtering notes in an unpredictable chase.
Martin Longley, Birmingham Post
Martin Longley, Birmingham Post
A high-energy performance all round, with Chris Biscoe in particularly commanding form - consistently inventive and full of surprises, his work epitomises the spirit of all these Jazzprint issues.
Pete Martin, Jazz UK issue 41
Pete Martin, Jazz UK issue 41
PETE HURT - tenor sax
One of the UK's most melodic tenor players, Pete has been a long-time partner with Chris Biscoe in George Russell's sax section. They also appeared together in Andy Sheppard's Band, and on Pete's own big-band record, Lost for Words. Pete's writing is also a major feature of his small band writing, including his last CD, Umbrellas. He has also toured and recorded with Carla Bley and Stan Sultzmann.
One of the UK's most melodic tenor players, Pete has been a long-time partner with Chris Biscoe in George Russell's sax section. They also appeared together in Andy Sheppard's Band, and on Pete's own big-band record, Lost for Words. Pete's writing is also a major feature of his small band writing, including his last CD, Umbrellas. He has also toured and recorded with Carla Bley and Stan Sultzmann.
Reviews:
Finally, a new recording by saxophonist Pete Hurt has just arrived. The release of "Umbrellas" (ASC CD10) is something of an even. This new CD ... should serve to remind people what an interesting and inventive player Pete Hurt is. His compositions, too, have a distinctive, intriguing quality which gives the whole set a feeling of unity together with an unusual degree of coherence. This is a highly impressive piece of work.
Pete Martin, Jazz UK July/August 1996
Finally, a new recording by saxophonist Pete Hurt has just arrived. The release of "Umbrellas" (ASC CD10) is something of an even. This new CD ... should serve to remind people what an interesting and inventive player Pete Hurt is. His compositions, too, have a distinctive, intriguing quality which gives the whole set a feeling of unity together with an unusual degree of coherence. This is a highly impressive piece of work.
Pete Martin, Jazz UK July/August 1996
LIAM NOBLE - piano
Recent years have seen increasing acclaim for Liam as writer and performer, and his Trio CD (Close my Eyes) and Quintet record (In the Meantime) have received excellent reviews. His Quartet with Phil Robson, Drew Gress and Tom Rainey was a talking point of the 2004 Cheltenham Festival and recorded in New York in August. Liam also works with local jazz legends Harry Beckett and Bobby Wellins.
Recent years have seen increasing acclaim for Liam as writer and performer, and his Trio CD (Close my Eyes) and Quintet record (In the Meantime) have received excellent reviews. His Quartet with Phil Robson, Drew Gress and Tom Rainey was a talking point of the 2004 Cheltenham Festival and recorded in New York in August. Liam also works with local jazz legends Harry Beckett and Bobby Wellins.
It was the harmonic intrigue of The Bathroom Mirror, the twisting melody and celtic echoes of Across the Park and the Mike Gibbs-like horn harmonies of a closing almost-blues that made Noble's wry, pungent writing the star.
John Fordham, Guardian, Monday May 6, 2002
John Fordham, Guardian, Monday May 6, 2002
DAVE WHITFORD - double bass
David studied music at Middlesex University. Since graduating he has been steadily establishing himself as one of the most in demand young double bass players on the London scene.He has played and recorded with a wide range of artists including Marc Copland, Steve Lacy, John Taylor, Stan Sulzmann, Christine Tobin, Bobby Wellins, Phil Robson and Hans Koller.
David studied music at Middlesex University. Since graduating he has been steadily establishing himself as one of the most in demand young double bass players on the London scene.He has played and recorded with a wide range of artists including Marc Copland, Steve Lacy, John Taylor, Stan Sulzmann, Christine Tobin, Bobby Wellins, Phil Robson and Hans Koller.
DAVE WICKINS - drums all dates except March 10th
A drummer with great touch, Dave is one of the UK scene's best kept secrets. As well as working with Liam Noble, Harry Beckett and Bobby Wellins, Dave is Kirk Lightsey's first call drummer for all his UK work, and in 2005 is playing in Martin Speake's new Charlie Parker Band.
A drummer with great touch, Dave is one of the UK scene's best kept secrets. As well as working with Liam Noble, Harry Beckett and Bobby Wellins, Dave is Kirk Lightsey's first call drummer for all his UK work, and in 2005 is playing in Martin Speake's new Charlie Parker Band.
FOR BOOKINGS OR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Chris Biscoe: email: chrisbiscoemail (at) gmail (dot) com
Chris Biscoe: email: chrisbiscoemail (at) gmail (dot) com
Reviews:
Biscoe is a saxophone virtuoso of great lyricism, passion, stamina and considerable versatility. He is steeped in the jazz tradition and his conception embraces everything from blues and gospel roots to free improvisation and jazz rock.
Ian Carr, The Rough Guide to Jazz
Biscoe is a saxophone virtuoso of great lyricism, passion, stamina and considerable versatility. He is steeped in the jazz tradition and his conception embraces everything from blues and gospel roots to free improvisation and jazz rock.
Ian Carr, The Rough Guide to Jazz
Reviews:
There's no aimless filling from Noble; he prefers dense, angular finger-butts, distant salsa chord structures hazily definable at times, Monkish ringing apparent at others, with even some moments of Stan Tracey jabbing or Howard Riley bebop transmogrification.
Martin Longley, Birmingham Post
There's no aimless filling from Noble; he prefers dense, angular finger-butts, distant salsa chord structures hazily definable at times, Monkish ringing apparent at others, with even some moments of Stan Tracey jabbing or Howard Riley bebop transmogrification.
Martin Longley, Birmingham Post
photo: Peter Symes
