Wilkinson/Edwards/Noble + J.Spaceman/John Coxon
Originally formed in the mid noughties, when Wilkinson sat in for an indisposed Lol Coxhill, the trio quickly established itself as one of the most vibrant combinations on the London Improvised music circuit, playing often around Britain and on festivals at home and in Europe. They produced 2 highly acclaimed CDs for Bo’Weavil Recordings the second of which ‘Live at Café Oto’ was voted one of Stewart Lee’s CDs of the decade in The Times. Their music is characterised by a fearless approach to improvisation with lightning responses, flipping from time to abstraction, incorporating inflexions from a vast array of influences. Their recent performance at the ATP festival in Prestatyn was a triumph and for this concert they will play as a trio in the first set, before being joined by the twin guitars of J.Spaceman and John Coxon for the second.
“Big, brutal, bruising brilliance” Dan Spicer, Jazzwise July 2007. “…and these three protagonists are masters of that chance moment, musicians with the uncanny ability to harness the unpredictable and lend it form.”
Alan Wilkinson was a formative part of the Leeds experimental music scene in the 80s, founding the Termite Club and as part of the ferocious Hession/Wilkinson/Fell trio. Since relocating to London in 1990 he has continued to play and promote the music and remains one of the most powerful saxophone voices around today, recently adding bass clarinet to his usual Alto and Baritone. He has played with Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Chris Corsano, Akira Sakata, Thurston Moore and many others, and can currently be seen with Akode and the Mark Wastell Quartet.
John Edwards is a true virtuoso whose staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Perpetually in demand, he has played with Evan Parker, Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Joe McPhee, Lol Coxhill, Peter Brötzmann, Mulatu Astatke and many others.
“I think John Edwards is absolutely remarkable: there’s never been anything like him before, anywhere in jazz.” – Richard Williams, The Blue Moment.
Steve Noble is one of the most in demand drummers of his generation due to a seamless technique coupled with a razor sharp imagination, and currently plays with Peter Brötzmann, Stephen O’Malley, Thurston Moore, his trios NEW and DECOY, who have collaborated with Joe McPhee, and many more. In the past he was part of Rip, Rig and Panic, had a duo with pianist Alex Maguire, and played in many combinations with Derek Bailey. His partnership with Edwards is rightly seen as possibly the most potent, exciting and continually creative drum/bass collaboration around today.
J.Spaceman is the composer, guitarist and singer behind Spaceman 3 and Spiritualized. A hugely influential and prominent rock musician of the 90s he has shown a keen interest in improvisation in recent years, collaborating with many musicians through and with Spiritualized and Spring Heel Jack guitarist and producer John Coxon. These musicians have included John Tchicai, Wadada Leo Smith, Han Bennink and Evan Parker to name a few, many documented on Coxon’s Treader label.
Originally formed in the mid noughties, when Wilkinson sat in for an indisposed Lol Coxhill, the trio quickly established itself as one of the most vibrant combinations on the London Improvised music circuit, playing often around Britain and on festivals at home and in Europe. They produced 2 highly acclaimed CDs for Bo’Weavil Recordings the second of which ‘Live at Café Oto’ was voted one of Stewart Lee’s CDs of the decade in The Times. Their music is characterised by a fearless approach to improvisation with lightning responses, flipping from time to abstraction, incorporating inflexions from a vast array of influences. Their recent performance at the ATP festival in Prestatyn was a triumph and for this concert they will play as a trio in the first set, before being joined by the twin guitars of J.Spaceman and John Coxon for the second.
“Big, brutal, bruising brilliance” Dan Spicer, Jazzwise July 2007. “…and these three protagonists are masters of that chance moment, musicians with the uncanny ability to harness the unpredictable and lend it form.”
Alan Wilkinson was a formative part of the Leeds experimental music scene in the 80s, founding the Termite Club and as part of the ferocious Hession/Wilkinson/Fell trio. Since relocating to London in 1990 he has continued to play and promote the music and remains one of the most powerful saxophone voices around today, recently adding bass clarinet to his usual Alto and Baritone. He has played with Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Chris Corsano, Akira Sakata, Thurston Moore and many others, and can currently be seen with Akode and the Mark Wastell Quartet.
John Edwards is a true virtuoso whose staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Perpetually in demand, he has played with Evan Parker, Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Joe McPhee, Lol Coxhill, Peter Brötzmann, Mulatu Astatke and many others.
“I think John Edwards is absolutely remarkable: there’s never been anything like him before, anywhere in jazz.” – Richard Williams, The Blue Moment.
Steve Noble is one of the most in demand drummers of his generation due to a seamless technique coupled with a razor sharp imagination, and currently plays with Peter Brötzmann, Stephen O’Malley, Thurston Moore, his trios NEW and DECOY, who have collaborated with Joe McPhee, and many more. In the past he was part of Rip, Rig and Panic, had a duo with pianist Alex Maguire, and played in many combinations with Derek Bailey. His partnership with Edwards is rightly seen as possibly the most potent, exciting and continually creative drum/bass collaboration around today.
J.Spaceman is the composer, guitarist and singer behind Spaceman 3 and Spiritualized. A hugely influential and prominent rock musician of the 90s he has shown a keen interest in improvisation in recent years, collaborating with many musicians through and with Spiritualized and Spring Heel Jack guitarist and producer John Coxon. These musicians have included John Tchicai, Wadada Leo Smith, Han Bennink and Evan Parker to name a few, many documented on Coxon’s Treader label.
(Painting by Gina Southgate made at this year’s ATP curated by Stewart Lee.)