ACTS

Friday 12th March
The Nigel Price Organ Trio with Alex Garnett

The line up for this gig is  Alex Garnett  Saxes; Nigel Price Guitar; Pete Whittaker  Hammond organ; Matt Home  Drums

 

The trio draws heavily on it’s inspiration from the gritty organ combos of the 60’s,led by such names as Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff,Richard Groove Holmes etc.

Whilst happy to dip their toes in more contemporary waters the band never loses sight of the ingredients that make this one of the most enduring and appealing formats in jazz. With gospel like soul, blues sensibility  and the will to swing the music refuses to alienate an audience and with the addition of the infamous, incorrigible and world class talent that is Alex Garnett on tenor sax this is not a gig to be missed!



Advance tickets for all our gigs at www.wegottickets.com/find/venue/crypt

See www.nigelprice.biz

Friday 19th March
The Chris Biscoe Quartet's Tribute to Eric Dolphy
BBC double award winner Tony Kofi joins Chris Biscoe in an exploration of the musical legacy of reeds virtuoso Eric Dolphy. Featuring arrangements specially developed for this quartet,  the repertoire includes music written by Eric Dolphy, and tunes from Oliver Nelson, Fats Waller, Monk and Mingus which he recorded.
The first record by the band, Gone in the Air, was released on Trio Records in June 2008, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Eric Dolphy’s birth.

Chris Biscoe (alto sax, alto clarinet, alto flute) has appeared as a soloist on more than 40 albums, including records with George Russell, Mike Westbrook, Andy Sheppard and The Brotherhood of Breath. Major tours include the Hermeto Pascoal Big Band and The New York Composers Orchestra
Tony Kofi  (alto sax) is the BBC Jazz Awards 2008 Instrumentalist of the Year, and his album All is Know was a double award winner in 2005 (BBC and Parliamentary Jazz Awards). He has been featured with Andrew Hill, David Murray and Sam Rivers, is a member of Byron Wallen's group Indigo, and has worked extensively with Chris Biscoe in Grand Union. In 2006, Tony joined the World Saxophone Quartet.
Larry Bartley (bass) is a leading light of the contemporary jazz scene, featured with the bands of Byron Wallen, Ingrid Laubrock and Jason Yarde.
Stu Butterfield (drums) works with the Henry Lowther/Jim Mullen Quartet, Mingus Moves and The Strayhorn Project.

“they turned in one blistering solo after another within ensemble passages of impeccable cohesion, the hallmark of the highest quality chamber-jazz.
The CD to come promises to be a gem.” Jazz UK, Scene and HeardReviews for Chris Biscoe Quartet: Gone in the Air: The Music of Eric Dolphy

....an exhilarating, heady rush of music.... Strongly recommended. Chris Parker, Vortex Website, May 2008

Chris Biscoe, with fellow saxophonist Tony Kofi, bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Stu Butterfield, succeed amazingly well in entering Dolphy’s remarkable musical universe - Dave Gelly, The Observer 01.06.08

...this magnificent recording is Chris Biscoe's tribute to a remarkable talent. The playing is spot on. Peter Bevan, Northern Echo 05.06.08

Big, robust soloing from Biscoe and Kofi, with great support from Bartley and Butterfield. These guys are swinging hard. It’s an honest tribute to Eric Dolphy and the music is played with passion and authenticity. Julian Joseph, Jazz Line-Up, BBC Radio 3, 14.06. 2008.

....music which is utterly compelling...... Bassist Larry Bartley and drummer Stu Butterfield provide admirable support. Pete Martin, Jazz UK Issue 82, August/September 2008

Biscoe’s very personal playing leaps out in vivid clarity. His frontline partner, Tony Kofi, also finds fresh ways to honour ancestral voices. To hear the two joust on alto sax is invigorating. This is jazz of the highest achievement. Alan Brownlee, Manchester Evening News, 08.08.2008

Dolphy’s spirit is tangible, Biscoe concentrating on his cerebral abstract corners and Kofi bringing bluesier heat. Philip Clark, Wire, September 2008

....reeds master Chris Biscoe enlisted brilliant young alto player Tony Kofi... Their muscular unison playing brings the themes to life, then sparks some intense soloing. Kofi is flowing and uninhibited here... A happy meeting between a virtuoso campaigner of British jazz and one of its newest stars.  Steve Harris, hi-fi news, October 2008

www.chrisbiscoe.co.uk  www.myspace.com/chrisbiscoe 
www.tonykofi.com     www.myspace.com/tonykofi

Advance tickets for all our gigs at www.wegottickets.com/find/venue/crypt

Friday 26th March
The Chris Allard Band
With Chris Allard - Electric and Acoustic Guitars; Brandon Allen - Tenor Saxophone; Ross Stanley - Piano and Keyboards; Percy Pursglove - Double Bass; Nick Smalley - Drums 

Friday 9th April
Balkanatics
Balkanatics is a Balkan inspired brass band that plays wild, rhythmically driving music from South Eastern Europe and Anatolia that always gets audiences dancing. Born out of London's cosmopolitan music scene it combines the cream of the UK with the best immigrant musicians.
‘‘I revelled in the atmospheric and haunting mix of trumpets, accordion, tuba, darbuka and davul. A most rewarding collection for the discerning listener’’ - Musician Magazine

'kick-ass Balkan brass band...their sound is robust, high energy' - f-ROOTS

With
IAN EAST - saxophone/flute/zurna (traditional oboe) Saxophonist and flautist Ian East grew up in London with a large appetite for music from all over the world. He studied for four years at the Royal Academy of Music where he met up with like minded collaborators David Beebee and Patrick Naylor who went on to form Beeboss Records. Ian has worked with Steve Melling's Quartet, Tim Whitehead's Sight Reading Mothers, David Beebee's Gaya, Brasil Universo (playing music of Hermeto Pascoal), New Dreams Quartet (inspired by Don Cherry), Philip Clouts Quartet, Palestinian singer Reem Kelani and Patrick Naylor's Soundial amongst others as well as running his own projects Balkanatics, Ian East Quartet and Momentito with David Beebee. His varied CD releases can be found on the Beeboss Records website. He is also actively involved in jazz and world music education, running jazz and Balkan music workshops and teaching saxophone at the Blackheath Conservatoire He has performed/taught with Eddie Parker's Integrated Music Project IMPRO and also spent five years performing and leading workshops for Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now!
"East on tenor is fluent and passionate" Tony Hall, Jazz Express.
"our long range tip for the top" Jack Massarick, Evening Standard.

IGOR GUDZALOV – trumpet/voice  From Strumica in Macedonia, Igor gained his Trumpet Masters Degree at Skopje’s main music university ‘Cyril and Mepodiy’ and then went on to play with the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra for five years. He has also worked with master clarinetist Stojan Dimov and with Alea, a group specialising in modern 20th Century Macedonian music. He also worked on the Brass band and jazz circuits as a trumpeter, pianist and singer before moving to London.

CHRIS BATCHELOR - trumpet Started playing as a professional musician in 1979 with Django Bates & then with Dudu Pukwana. Founder & composer of Loose Tubes 1983-90. Also during this time played with Taxi Pata Pata, 3 Mustaphas three & co-led Orkestra Rafiki. More recently has played & recorded with Alex Maguire's Big Stick, Martin Speake's Fever Pitch & Django Bates' Delightful Precipice & his own group with Steve Buckley. First CD released 1995, followed by 'Life as We Know it', with Steve Buckley (Babel, 1999). In 2000 he toured in the UK with Hermeto Pascoal & with the 'Life As We Know It' band at Canadian festivals. In 2001 he toured in the UK with his own band Big Air (including New Yorkers Jim Black & Myra Melford). With this group he won 'Best New Work' in the BBC Jazz Awards. He also toured the UK with Michael Brecker in spring 2001.

PETRO DEWSHI - accordion Played with Polish folk dancer groups Orlenta, Karolinka in late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989-1993 he played with various musicians in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia & Poland and in London from 1995/6 onwards played in many Balkan music groups including Yash BAsh with David Bitelli which specialises in music from the southern Balkans, Mukka, Marama Caffe BAnd, Ultraswing and Marcel Mamaliga. In 1999-2001 played with improvising musicians from the Bassesferre collective in Bologna, Italy. Recorded with Gilad Atzmon Oriental House Ensemble 'Exile' 2002 and with Mukka 'life,Life' 2003 and Bucharest string ensemble 'Radio London' 2003. Divides most of his time between Italy and UK. Having played amongst numerous musicians from Romania, Serbia, Italy, France and the UK his playing therefore reflects the influences of these countries.

DAVE POWELL - tuba A graduate of London University and the Royal Academy of Music, Dave was trained as a classical musician, but has always had an interest in other kinds of music. He has performed with numerous symphony, opera and ballet orchestras in Britain and abroad and also specialises in contemporary music as a member of the London Sinfonietta. He was a founder-member of Loose Tubes and has played with the bands of Mike Westbrook, John Dankworth, Billy Cobham, Barry Guy, Pete Hurt, Martin Speake etc. Dave has run many education and community projects involving drama, improvisation and composition. He has his own 8-piece jazz/world music band “Kermesse” which has recorded a CD. His compositions include songs for children, a piece for 16 trombones, sacred choral music, electronic dance music, and a piece for solo tuba and brass band.

RASTKO - davul (tapan) Rastko Rasic was born in Belgrade, Serbia and as a boy first played the trumpet and later classical percussion. As he was growing up the range of music played in the family home was great: everything from classical and jazz to rock and punk to traditional Armenian and Serbian song. Perhaps it is no surprise then that when he started playing drums and percussion he did not confine himself to one particular style. In 1993 he won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, U.S.A. and it was during his stay there that he started collaborating with such diverse artists as Vardan Ovsepian, afro-pop group Lovewhip, the avant-garde Balvanyos Ensemble, the Ethiopian reggae band Mebreq and the Romanian pan-flute virtuoso Damian. He has been living in London since 2000 performing with various jazz groups and working on pop and world music projects including the pan-Balkan Mukka and currently, the hotly tipped Polly Paulusma.

Visit our website www.balkanatics.co.uk to listen to our music samples or to check out our gig schedule, photos, biogs, workshops or Balkan brass band history. Also www.myspace.com/balkanatics

Advance tickets for all our gigs at www.wegottickets.com/find/venue/crypt

Friday 16th April
The Roger B Quartet

Friday 23rd April
The Georgia Mancio Quintet
With Georgia Mancio (voice), Gareth Lockrane (flutes), Tim Lapthorn (piano), Julie Walkington (bass), Dave Ohm (drums)

Tonight Georgia returns to The Crypt as part of the 17 date tour celebrating her third album, Silhouette (Roomspin Records). With elements of her acclaimed 2008 release,Trapeze, the new album includes originals co-written by herself and pianists, Tim Lapthorn and Kate Williams, alongside an approved lyric to Pat Metheny's classic Question And Answer, jazz standards and songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Tom Waits.

In less than a decade of professional work award-winning jazz vocalist, Georgia Mancio, has established herself as one of the UK’s most important new artists. This has been compounded by: appearances with Bobby McFerrin (2009 Meltdown and 2003 London Jazz Festival), Sheila Jordan and David Linx (Belgium 2006), Frank Griffith Nonet, Liane Carroll, Bobby Wellins and Ian Shaw, Norma Winstone and Anita Wardell (The True Jazz Voice 2008); a first prize win at the 2005 Brussels International Young Jazz Singers’ Competition; 4 star live reviews from both The Standard and The Guardian and numerous sell-out performance dates and tours in the UK, Poland, Italy, Portugal and Belgium.

“A performer of character, conviction, and relaxed virtuosity…more than ready for [the spotlight]”   The Guardian **** (Pizza Express Jazz Club 2008)

“taste, originality and understated eloquence”   The Observer

“Marvel at the way Mancio’s rhythmic grasp never fails her in such a variety of groove and swing. She is, without question, the real thing.”  Jazz UK

www.georgiamancio.com
Advance tickets for all our gigs at www.wegottickets.com/find/venue/crypt

Friday 30th April 2010
Compassionate Dictatorship
With Jez Franks - guitar; Tori Freestone - saxophone; Jasper Hoiby - bass; James Maddren - drums
 
Described as “catching the current wave of Brit Jazz, ’Compassionate Dictatorship' evolved out of the long standing collaboration between Jez Franks and Tori Freestone, who then joined forces with bassist Jasper Hoiby and more recently, drummer James Maddren.  Since their debut album 'Coup d'Etat' in 2007 they have been touring extensively, honing and developing their sound.  They're now promoting their second album 'Cash Cow'.   The guitar and sax led quartet play original material that draws from a wide and eclectic range of influences from folk to free and contemporary jazz, creating fresh sounds and atmospheric textures within interesting harmonic frameworks and varied meters over bubbling grooves, blending the four distinct voices into one. 

Friday May 7th
The Italian Job

Friday 14th May
tbc

Friday 21st May
The Tony Kofi trio

Friday 28th May
TBC