Pat Thomas (piano / electronics)
Since 1979, Thomas has been performing seriously as an improviser.Thomas has played with Derek Bailey in Company Week, with the trio AND, with Tony Oxley’s Quartet and Celebration Orchestra and in a duo with Lol Coxhill. His experimental leanings manifested themselves in the form of electronics — he plays and programs electronic keyboards and uses pre-recorded tapes in his music. Thomas is one half of Black Top with fellow collaborator Orphy Robinson.
Barrel is Hannah Marshall (cello), Ivor Kallin (viola) and Alison Blunt (violin)
First performing as a trio at Freedom of the City festival in London (2007) and christened by musician Pat Thomas, Barrel has gained a formidable reputation through their performances, albums and performance recordings. Their first album was released with Emanem in 2011 was in the Wire’s critic’s choice list of improv’ releases and the second with Austrian festival ‘Artacts’ label – Idyllic Noise, in 2013, both live performance documents have received excellent reviews.
“They range far and wide over a vast equilateral triangle of territory with avant-garde ‘art music’, total improv and Dada as its three vertices…you really, really need to track this astonishing combo down toot sweet. Your glee muscles with bless you for it.”
Live review by Hipster Uncle.
“To the uninitiated, this trio of string virtuosos might sound like musical terrorists…revolutionary, funny and breathtakingly audacious.”
All About Jazz
To preview, an unedited recording from one of their performances earlier this year: https://soundcloud.com/
