Loz Speyer’s Inner Space (2nd show)

Loz Speyer’s Inner Space return *live* to the Vortex Jazz Club, with an exciting new line up.

For some years now, Inner Space has been living a “Life on the Edge”, straddling the spaces between seemingly disparate Jazz styles and approaches to improvisation. The compositions weave lines through New Orleans, Bebop, Improv and Free Jazz – with the emphasis always on the five musicians working it all out in the here and now – producing Jazz of a rare warmth and immediacy.

This is a fresh start for Inner Space after the long break, and the band is excited to present its new lineup with two distinctive new voices in the saxophone section, Xhosa Cole, and Dee Byrne! – two truly creative and individual players, both gaining increasing recognition leading their own groups.

The night will also be the first airing for some new compositions, including dedications to trumpeter and innovator Bill Dixon, and to the great bassist Henry Grimes (who Speyer played duo with in 2007). These join a growing collection of Speyer’s “Jazz Portrait” pieces, and go into the mix with music from the band’s acclaimed Leo Records album, “Life on the Edge”.

Photo by Gary Franklin

**** “The integrity they bring to the emerging free jazz push-pull structure of ’Space Music’ pilots the musicians further towards destinations unknown.”  Philip Clark, Jazzwise

**** “Superb outing that effectively highlights the leader’s jarring and perceptively constructed compositions.” Glen Astarita, All About Jazz

“The contrapuntal moments when the horns venture just over the edge make me think that if ODJB had arrived 100 years later they may have sounded like this.”  Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here