Line-up
Riley Stone-Lonergan – tenor saxophone
Eddie Myer – double bass
Spike Wells – drums
About
QOW TRIO is a generation-spanning trio of diverse players who’ve come together, united by a love of the tradition, to explore the freedom that opens up within the three-way saxophone-bass-drums format. Their influences reach back across the history of the music, and look forward into its future, drawing inspiration from its constant evolution, from Lester Young to Charlie Parker to Sonny Rollins to Joe Henderson to Dewey Redman to Seamus Blake to Bill McHenry and beyond, creating a wide-open trio sound that seems to tell a host of exciting stories. You’ll hear echoes of prohibition era Kansas City swing, the kinetic rush of 52nd Street bebop, the untrammelled freedom of the Manhattan loft scene, and more besides.
Together QOW TRIO’s playing experience encompasses a span of sixty years across three generations. Firebrand young sax star RILEY STONE LONERGAN is a regular at Ronnie Scott’s and one of the most exciting young players on the London scene. British drum legend SPIKE WELLS has enjoyed an astonishing career, starting in swinging 60s London, and playing with everyone from Dexter Gordon to Stan Getz and Roland Kirk to Joe Harriot, but is best know for his long and close association with two of the greatest British tenor legends, Tubby Hayes and Bobby Wellins. Multi-genre bassist and bandleader EDDIE MYER is a familiar figure on the Brighton scene and draws inspiration from Wilbur Ware and George Tucker as well as Eric Revis and Dennis Irwin. They spent a beautiful day together in the renowned FishMarket studios under the eyes and ears of engineer Ben Lamdin, capturing the freewheeling essence of their interplay direct to tape. Their debut record sounds like a series of spontaneous, direct and honest conversations, taking place across time and space, with melody, swing, warmth and passion for the music as the constant factors throughout.
“Whatever the material, what is striking about this set is the freshness with which all three musicians approach their work. Were it not for lockdown, this trio would be packing out the clubs.” Simon Adams – Jazz Journal 28 May 2021
““This music is wonderful stuff and failing to buy this album would be a terrible mistake.” BBC Music Magazine.
“WOW!!” Peter Vacher, The Jazz Rag
“Their playing just reminds you of the joy of being alive, and in these troubled times there can be no better medicine than great music played well.” Jazz Views
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS – PLEASE READ
Welcome to the Vortex. Although the government is relaxing its Covid restrictions on July 19th 2021 the Vortex will continue to operate measures to protect users of the premises.
Please note the following:
- We ask you not to attend gigs if you have or think you may have any Covid-19 symptoms. If you can’t make a gig because you have to self-isolate then just get in touch by filling out this form and we’ll give you a voucher for another gig.
- We will ask you on entry to sign in for NHS Test and Trace either using the NHS Covid app or manually
- There will be no standing at gigs. Everyone who books a ticket will be allocated a seat, but we cannot guarantee that you will have a table.
- Orders for drinks and snacks will be taken and paid for using the Butlr app which you can download on arrival. (If you do not have a smartphone then your order will be taken at the table and you can make a contactless payment. We do not accept cash.)
- We ask that everyone wears a mask when moving around inside the building.
- Automatic hand sanitiser stations are provided at various places within the building and we encourage regular use of hand sanitiser.
- Full details of the measures that we are taking to prevent transmission of Covid are set out in our risk assessment and management plan which can be found on our website.