Co-produced with Sound and Music and supported by Arts Council England, Mopomoso’s first ever UK tour took place between 23rd and 30th of April 2013. Each night of the tour was unique as local musicians from each city joined the line-up. With a firm focus on free improvisation, musical references ranged from jazz, rock, folk, classical, electronic, world and computer-generated music, representing the broad brush stroke spirit of inclusion embodied in the Mopomoso aesthetic.
MUSICIANS
Kay Grant (voice) / Alex Ward (clarinet) duo
Kay Grant started in the downtown New York scene but crossed the Atlantic, while clarinetist Alex Ward started improvising with Derek Bailey. Both are now longstanding and vital members of the London scene, having played with a veritable Who?s Who of the world’s improvisers, and bring their mutual experience in multiple musical styles to the table. Furious, humorous and sonorous all at once, it’s a dynamic duo that has been evolving for over five years. Their CD ‘Fast Talk …Being a Collection of Live Musical Conversations Recorded on Several Auspicious Occasions’ (Emanem) has received rave reviews and was listed in The Wire’s 2012 Rewind Jazz and Improv top chart.
“Even as two very distinct voices, clarinet and vocals still intertwine, circling and mirroring each other to stunning effect.” – John Eyles, All About Jazz
“The voice of Kay Grant and clarinet of Alex Ward run playful circles around each other’s ideas, constantly inspiring the other to new heights. In fact it can’t get much more fun than this.” – Joe Higham, Free Jazz
“Both musicians explore irony by twisting form into impossible musical shapes… always emerging with spectacular wit and the choicest of musical wisdom.” – Raul D’Gama Rose,
All About Jazz
Alison Blunt trio – Alison Blunt (violin) / David Leahy (bass) / Benedict Taylor (viola)
All established artists in the experimental new music scene and members of the London Improvisers Orchestra, Alison Blunt, Benedict Taylor and David Leahy have played together in various combinations for many years and as a trio since 2010. Sharing a passion for string orientated improvising they initiated an explorative ensemble in 2012 with Chicago based artist Renee Baker. Called ‘Burning Wood’, a compilation of recordings ranging from trio to sextet configurations will be released later this year. Also this year they begin several higher education projects in institutions including Goldsmiths, University of London and the Royal College of Music where they will give seminar/workshops and work with composition students to explore improvised music and the relationship between improvisation and composition.
Pat Thomas (piano / electronics) solo
Pat Thomas studied classical piano from the age of 8 and started playing Jazz from the age of 16. He has since gone on to develop an utterly unique style – embracing improvisation, jazz and new music. He has played with Derek Bailey in Company Week (1990/91), AND (with Bailey and percussionist Steve Noble), The Tony Oxley Quartet, The Celebration Orchestra and in Duo with Lol Coxhill as well as numerous other collaborations both in the UK and abroad.
“Pat Thomas sits in the front rank of British improvisers. In the early 1990s he participated in Derek Bailey’s Company Week, though he might be best known for his work with Tony Oxley, Lol Coxhill and Steve Beresford or his quartet Scatter with Phil Minton, Roger Turner and Dave Tucker.” – James Linbloom Opprobrium
“Sartorially shabby as Thomas may be, and on first impression even rather stolid, he has a somewhat imperious charisma that ís immediately amplified when he starts to play. Unlike other pianists whose virtuosity seems to be racing ahead of their thought processes Thomas always seems supremely in command of his gift, and his playing, no matter how free and ready to tangle with abstraction, always carries a charge of authoritative exactitude.” – The Jazzmann
(Pat Thomas is not appearing at Colston Hall , Bristol)
House Full of Floors – Evan Parker (saxophones) John Edwards (bass) John Russell (guitar)
A world class saxophonist and innovator Evan Parker has been, and continues to be, a highly regarded and pivotal figure in the world of free improvisation. ‘House Full of Floors’ sees him in the company of two equally skilled players, guitarist Russell and bassist Edwards, playing a fast moving, constantly evolving music full of surprises. A trio that has been described as ‘knotty, subtle and deeply intuitive’ and ‘engaging, vital and dynamic’, Evan himself has said that playing in the group is ‘like three people on a tight rope each holding a safety net for the others’.
“Each man is a master of unconventional instrumental language; collectively, they are fluent beyond eloquence.” – Bill Meyer, Dusted
“Their approach to music making and improvisation is openly conversant and comfortably natural and their lack of pretension an admirable characteristic.” – Mark Corroto, All About Jazz
Keith Tippett piano solo
For over thirty years Keith Tippett has been at the forefront of contemporary European jazz and new music – as a pianist, composer, bandleader, band member and musical educator.
Tippett’s work ranges from his unique free improvisation as a solo pianist and with duos and small groups such as the quartet Mujician, to compositions for – and performances with – contemporary classical groups (including the Composers’ Ensemble, Kokoro and the Kreutzer and Elysian String Quartets).
Keith continues to perform in many ensembles as well as solo and in duo with Julie Tippetts throughout the World.
(Keith Tippett is appearing only at Colston Hall, Bristol)
Tour Dates
- Tues 23rd April – Birmingham – Sound Kitchen
- Weds 24th April – Brighton – Safehouse
- Friday 26th – Oxford – Oxford Improvisers
- Saturday 27th – Bristol – Colston Hall
- Sunday 28th – Sheffield – Notes & Sounds
- Monday 29th – Newcastle – A Better Noise
- Tuesday 30th – Manchester – Tubers Music
