Supported by the DaveHolland – Evan Parker Fund
First set: NIMA
Irini Arabatzi – vocals
Luca Manning – vocals
Seth Tackaberry – Bass
Sam Every – Drums/BVs.
NIMA is the Guildhall School of Music student band for September. Following their sold-out headline show at Edinburgh Jazz Festival – Nima have continued to bring together their eclectic melting pot of influences to create a unique new sound. The band draws inspiration from everywhere: jazz, soul, bluegrass and all types of world music.
“I’ll wager that some of these make the unique sound of this quartet a YouTube sensation before long.” – Keith Bruce, Sunday Herald
“if you closed your eyes the sound was of studio album precision.” – Peter Alexander, Reviewsphere
Second Set: Forj
Joe Wright – Tenor saxophone
Josh Arcoleo – Tenor saxophone
Nick Jurd – Double Bass
Jonathan Silk – Drums
Forj is the Shape of Jazz To Come Project pick. Forj is an exciting new quartet led by drummer Jonathan Silk. Featuring the critically acclaimed and long time friend and collaborator, Nick Jurd on double bass alongside the incredible musicianship of two of London’s finest improvisers, Joe Wright and Josh Arcoleo on tenor saxophones, this band promises high octane grooves and expansive improvisation across a whole series of original compositions. Performing a rocky, but subtle, set of intricate grooves and diverse melodies, inspired by the exploratory improvisations of Jim Black, Ornette Coleman and Chris Lightcap, Forj aims to blur the lines between composition and improvisation in a highly interactive manner in this exciting chordless ensemble.
“a storming set” – Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast
“one of the most exciting bands to come out of the (Birmingham) Conservatoire in recent times” – Tony Dudley-Evans, Jazzlines THSH and Cheltenham Jazz Festival