Edition Records: So, what have you been up to lately?
Martin France: I recorded towards the end of last year with the Kenny Wheeler Big Band (to be released shortly). To be able to finally record and document our time together with that band was a huge honour for me. Of course the music was incredible, but also the band sounded superb so it was a thrill for me.
I’ve also been touring with John Taylor and Palle Daniellson and also with Marius Neset’s band. I played with Django Bates a little too which was very inspiring (and fun) to come back to after all these years….even though I couldn’t play the music!! [ed: we’re sure that’s not true Martin!] I’m very lucky to get to play with these people.
I’ve also been recording a few things…possibly for a new Spin Marvel release.

ER: The Spin Marvel all star lineup draws a large audience of fans from varying musical genres – (how) do you accommodate for this in your music?
MF: The simple answer is we just go out and do what we do. There’s not much point trying to accommodate every possible taste of every single person, as long as we address the music and the situation in the right way hopefully everything will come good. I have the utmost respect for everyone in the band, not only for what they do but who they are and how they might want to be, so from this aspect of performance were just going to approach it like any other.

ER: How do you prepare before a gig?
MF: To work to the point where we each feel comfortable and inspired with the sound we are making, but not over do it…a delicate balance, which is different for everybody I guess. For me though, I can never prepare too much.
This particular gig on Saturday is quite complicated from a technical aspect and I need to feel that we’re all happy in our respective corners. As a drummer it’s also great to warm up a little. Probably more importantly though, it always helps to focus the mind and try not to get too distracted with other things (which as most musicians will tell you it’s not so easy when there’s a lot going on around you).

ER: What can the audience expect at the Spin Marvel Oslo gig on Saturday?
MF: To hear everybody playing the way they want to. I’d like to think that there is a space for everyone to feel comfortable and be able to express exactly what they want for themselves, and for the music. It’s a diverse line up in terms of personalities and instrumentation -so for sure there will be experimentation, but this will make the performance very individual and unique. It would be nice to cover a lot of musical ground and always keep it moving forward in terms of pace, dynamic and emotion.

ER: Sounds great – what else have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
MF: We have a couple of more Spin Marvel projects this year starting with a session for the BBC in February and I’m also recording ideas for the new CD. I’ve been very lucky over the years to perform and record with some fantastic musicians and as long as I still get the opportunity to continue I’ll be very happy.
To be in a situation where wonderful creative artists put music in front of you and say “ok…play this”, whatever it is, is what musicians live for and hopefully it’ll keep going for us all.

Martin will be performing with Spin Marvel this Saturday at the National Jazz Centre, Oslo. For more information about the gig click here and for more on Spin Marvel and their work see their Edition Records artist page here

Saturday 4 February 9pm Doors at 8pm
Nasjonal Jazzscene (the National Jazz Venue) Oslo

Spin Marvel are to perform at Oslo’s Nasjonal Jazzscene on Saturday 4 February as part of the Conexions series curated by BBC’s Fiona Talkington (Conexions is a celebration of Norwegian & British musical partnerships).

Martin France drums
Tim Harries electric bass
John Parricelli guitar
John Paul Jones bass
Terje Evensen Percussion/Sound-Audio Editor
Nils Petter Molvær trumpet
Nick Luscombe & Guttorm Andreasen DJs

Led by Martin France, one of the UK’s most prolific and busiest drummers, Spin Marvel are praised for their use of textural soundscape and colour. Spin Marvel released their first album in 2005 to huge critical acclaim establishing themselves as one of the most compelling groups on the scene.

For over 25 years Martin France has been one of the major figures in forging the identity of British and European jazz. He’s worked alongside the likes of Elvis Costello, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano and John Taylor and has a particularly strong relationship with Norway, having worked with Bugge Wesseltoft, Arild Andersen and Sidsel Endresen. Tonight he brings his own group Spin Marvel, whose second album was released on Edition Records in 2010 to rave reviews. Their guests tonight are the legendary John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame alongside one of Norway’s most celebrated trumpeters, Nils Petter Molvær.

Combining fluid groove playing with powerhouse virtuosity, Spin Marvel have a distinctly European sound that is highly inventive and compelling.

SPIN MARVEL with John Paul Jones & Nils Petter Molvær Saturday 4 February 9pm Doors at 8pm Nasjonal Jazzscene (the National Jazz Venue) Oslo
Info & tickets

Walking Dark follows Phronesis’ Alive, which won 2010 Album of the Year from Jazzwise Magazine. Jasper Høiby describes Walking Dark as ‘a joint Phronesis adventure’ – the first album in which all members of the band contribute to the writing, as well as the arranging. Yet through these individual compositional textures, each track nevertheless displays the characteristic groove-driven ‘Phronesis sound’, incorporating constantly shifting yet expertly tight rhythmic patterns and exploratory openness. The album sees all three players reaching further than ever before, creating music that by turns drives with urban energy and resonates with mountainous space and sheer delightful abstraction.

With Walking Dark, this compelling trio have replicated in a studio setting the cha¬rismatic energy that makes them such a remarkable live force on stages internationally, and have produced an indisputable statement as to where jazz is heading in 2012.

Spain / Portugal: early Feb – exact date TBC
Belgium: 5th March 12
Netherlands: early March – exact date TBC
France: 7th March 12
Germany: 9th March 12
Italy: early March – exact date TBC
UK: 2nd April 12
Australia: 6th April 12
US: 17th April 12
Canada: 17th April 12

Phronesis are a dynamic trio who need little introduction. Their fourth album, Walking Dark, is the highly anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed Alive [Edition], which was voted ‘Jazz Album of the Year’ by both Jazzwise and MOJO magazines in 2010. Since the success of this release, the band have toured widely across Europe and North America, earning consistent praise for their vibrant live performances.

Formed by Danish bass player Jasper Høiby in 2005, the energy and individuality of Phronesis comes from an extraordinary democracy of expression and almost telepathic empathy between the musicians – three of the finest players on the European jazz scene today. British pianist Ivo Neame and Swedish drummer Anton Eger come together with Høiby to create a poly-rhythmic sound that is utterly accessible despite its underlying complexity, full of emotion and heart yet always delivered with clarity and direction.

Walking Dark is titled in reference to a series of concerts the trio played in total darkness as a dedication to Høiby’s visually impaired sister, and is the culmination of a body of work they have explored in performance since their second release, Green Delay. Høiby explains, “The Pitch Black project has provided us with the opportunity to focus on the intuitive aspect of how we communicate musically between ourselves, and with the listener. For me personally, it’s also been a way of giving something positive back to my sister, who continues to walk in darkness”.

Høiby describes Walking Dark as ‘a joint Phronesis adventure’ – the first album in which all members of the band contribute to the writing, as well as the arranging. Yet through these individual compositional textures, each track nevertheless displays the characteristic groove-driven ‘Phronesis sound’, incorporating constantly shifting yet expertly tight rhythmic patterns and exploratory openness. The album sees all three players reaching further than ever before, creating music that by turns drives with urban energy and resonates with mountainous space and sheer delightful abstraction.

With Walking Dark, this compelling trio have replicated in a studio setting the cha¬rismatic energy that makes them such a remarkable live force on stages internationally, and have produced an indisputable statement as to where jazz is heading in 2012.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER NOW

Artist: Josh Arcoleo
Title: Beginnings
Cat No: EDN1030

Josh Arcoleo tenor saxophone
Ivo Neame piano
Calum Gourlay double bass
James Maddren drums

It’s no surprise that he studied with James Brown Alumnus Pee Wee Ellis and claims Ellis’ one time tutor Sonny Rollins as an influence, along with the great Joe Henderson.  We’re talking ‘big tenor’ here.  Just listen to the intro to the title track.  Arcoleo and his musicians sketch what is to come quite beautifully but it still doesn’t prepare you for the majestically elegant way the music unfolds.

And there’s a more delicate strength to Phoenix, with its gorgeous introduction from pianist Ivo Neame, and to Glade.  Both reveal Arcoleo’s growing confidence and skills as a writer but they also suggest that here is a musician who knows how to draw out the best of his sidemen.  The space that James Maddren and Calum Gourlay create on both of these tunes is astonishing, whilst Neame plays with perfect poise and weight.  And there is a nicely loose feel to Arcoleo’s entry on Phoenix before he pushes the pace and ratchets up the tension.  Elsewhere, there’s a real muscularity to be found in the opening track, Dean Road, whilst Nomads’ Land bristles with electricity.  In tough times like these, the music must show both its vigour and its tenderness and Beginnings is all these things and more.

When tenorist Dick Morrissey first hit the West End in the early sixties, Ronnie Scott dubbed him ‘the kid with the tenor’.  There’s been a few new tenor kids come through town since then.  Now there’s a new star, only he ain’t a kid.  Josh Arcoleo is blessed with a voice and a vision that’s already mature and full of authority.  Beginnings is one of the most complete debut albums in a long time.  More than that its title warns of things to come.  This is so much more than just the Beginnings.

GIGS

FEB 2012

8th Feb – JOSH ARCOLEO – Vortex Jazz Club, London, UK ALBUM LAUNCH
19th Feb – JOSH ARCOLEO – North London Tavern, Kilburn
23rd Feb – JOSH ARCOLEO – St James’ Wine Vaults, Bath

MAR 2012

12th Mar – JOSH ARCOLEO – Ronnie Scotts (triple bill w/ Troyka & Arun Ghosh)

MAY 2012

19th May – JOSH ARCOLEO – Lyme Regis Jazz Festival
20th May – JOSH ARCOLEO – Stratford on Avon

JUL 2012

14th Jul – JOSH ARCOLEO – Swanage Jazz Festival

Ivo Neame – piano
Jon Shenoy – clarinet
Shabaka Hutchings – bass clt
Tori Freestone – sax/flt
Jason Yarde – alto sax
Jim Hart - vibes
Dave Hamblett – drums
Jasper Hoiby – bass

Book tickets now – click here

Prices:
£12.50

Booking Fee:
£1.75 (Members £0.00)

Concessions:
50% off (limited availability)

10 February 2012, 7:45pm

Marius Neset is increasingly regarded as a major emerging voice on the European jazz scene, and his second album (released in the spring) more than justifies the acclaim that is coming his way. The Norwegian saxophonist makes his instrument dance like a gazelle and soar like an eagle. It’s not just the virtuoso technique that impresses, although that is already at a level few saxophonists can live with. Nor is it just Neset’s distinctiveness as a composer. Both these aspects are part of a package that is given shape and focus by that indefinable extra factor that adds up to a unique musical personality.

“Marius Neset combines Brecker’s power and Jan Garbarek’s tonal delicacy, but has a vision that makes all 11 originals on this sensational album feel indispensable, and indispensably connected to each other. Neset is on his way to being one of the biggest new draws on the circuit”. ***** 5 stars
John Fordham, The Guardian

UK dates are as follows:

16th Feb – The Spin, Oxford, UK
17th Feb – Turner Sims, Southampton, UK
18th Feb – Hall 2, Kings Place, London, UK
22nd Feb – The Queens Gallery, North Devon Theatre, Barnstable, Devon, UK
23rd Feb – Wardrobe, Leeds, UK
24th Feb – Komedia, Brighton Jazz Club, Brighton, UK

6th FEB 2012 – Josh Arcoleo – Beginnings [EDN1030]
Josh Arcoleo (saxophones), Ivo Neame (piano), Calum Gourlay (bass), James Maddren (drums)

Notes:
Album Launch: 8th Feb – Vortex Jazz Club
Winner of Kenny Wheeler Music Prize

26th MARCH 2012 – Phronesis – TITLE TBC [EDN1031]
Ivo Neame (piano), Jasper Hoiby (bass), Anton Eger (drums)

Notes:
Tour dates: March – July 2012

30th APRIL 2012 – Dave Stapleton – Polaroid [EDN1032]
Dave Stapleton (piano), Marius Neset (saxophones), Dave Kane (bass), Olavi Louhivuori (drums) & Brodowski String Quartet

Notes:
Tour dates: 3rd – 5th May – RWCMD, Cardiff / St. Georges, Bristol / Kings Place, London

28th MAY 2012 – Troyka – TITLE TBC [EDN1033]
Chris Montague (guitars), Kit Downes (Hammond Organ), Joshua Blackmore (drums)

Notes:
Tour dates: May – July 2012

Tickets can be bought here:
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford/booking.aspx?page=hall&evcode=26637&proid=601

or by phoning 01865305305

Tickets can also be bought in person at Oxford Playhouse theatre Ticket Office.

Pianist Andrew McCormack and saxophonist Jason Yarde have both played with the great and the good of their own and of older generations. The sheer quality and range of their work would baffle many a working musician, but no-one becomes this good just by association or ambition. No-one makes music this eloquent unless it comes from a very special place. With huge acclaim from international and national for their second album Places and Other Spaces, this concert is part of their national UK tour. A concert not to be missed!

Running Time: 1hr 50 mins ( including an interval

Sat 26/11 19:30Book Tickets Prices: £12 (£10 / £8)