This concert features the improvising duo of pianist Achim Kaufmann and double bass player Olie Brice, and will be the final night of their UK tour. Berlin-based pianist Kaufmann is probably best known for his trio Kaufmann/Gratkowski/de Joode, an improvising unit which has released four albums to much critical acclaim. He also works with Michael Moore, Okkyung Lee and Han Bennink, among many others. Double bassist Olie Brice has appeared at the Vortex with the likes of Paul Dunmall, Tony Malaby, Mark Sanders and Tobias Delius. Together Achim and Olie have appeared at the Vortex together before in trio with Roger Turner, and an interview Olie gave with Achim at the time can be seen here: https://www.londonjazznews.com/2013/03/preview-olie-brice-achim-kaufmann-and.html
Achim Kaufmann was born into a musical family in Aachen, Germany, in 1962, and became fascinated by jazz and the possibilities of improvisation as a teenager. He started writing tunes around that time. Later he studied music at the Conservatory in Cologne and also took classes with creative masters such as Dave Holland, Steve Coleman, Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis, and Steve Lacy. In 2013, the sextet SKEIN (Kaufmann/Gratkowski/de Joode plus Richard Barrett, Okkyung Lee, and Tony Buck) had its premiere at the dOeK festival in Amsterdam and subsequently recorded for SWR radio.
Olie Brice is a jazz and improv double bassist. He is a member of the Riverloam trio (with Mikolaj Trzaska and Mark Sanders) and leads and composes for his own quintet (featuring Mark Hanslip, Alex Bonney, Waclaw Zimpel and Jeff Williams). He has also appeared with a wide range of musicians including Paul Dunmall, Tobias Delius, Achim Kaufmann, Ingrid Laubrock, Louis Moholo-Moholo and Ken Vandermark.
“Brice makes the entire body of his bass sing. He has the ability to deliver a fractal line that is as purposeful as any by the great jazz bassists, but to do so within an entirely abstract setting” – Brian Morton, Point of Departure
Supported by the Goethe-Institut London
