Pianist & composer Alexander Hawkins curates three late night sessions at the Vortex – catch them after the evening concerts. Known as an extraordinary improviser Hawkins plays with musicians from Evan Parker to Mulatu Astatke to Marshall Allen, as well as leading his own acclaimed Ensemble and trio.
ALEX WARD
Alex Ward originally came to prominence as an improvising clarinetist when he played at Derek Bailey’s Company week in London back in 1988. But since 1997 he has also enjoyed a rising profile as a guitarist in ensembles including rock band Camp Blackfoot, the poppish instrumental group Pocket and improvising trio NEW (with Steve Noble on drums and John Edwards on bass).
KIT DOWNES & LUCY RAILTON
Diving into the space between the organised and the disorganised, Kit Downes & Lucy Railton’s duo – Tricko Tareco draws inspiration from the lyricism and big-beat of minimalist composers, the ballads from nearby ice-cream vans and a light-footed approach to improvisation. Kit Downes (piano, organ and compositions) is joined by Lucy Railton (cello), forming a pairing that is alive and carefree but is always patient and sensitive. All the rest of Tricko Tareco is Alex Killpartrick (the Third Man), who is behind the dreamy and warped electro-acoustic trickery that shadows and follows. Tricko Tareco enjoys simple things put in weird ways – they released their first EP on Impossible Ark Records in January 2013.
