Thanks so much to everybody who was at Ronnie Scott’s on Wednesday, we had a great time and can only hope that you enjoyed the set as much as we did! There’s some photos below and a copy of a review from today’s Times – you can also find it online here (behind the paywall though…)
UPDATE: Fran Hardcastle from the always excellent LondonJazz blog was also at the gig – check out her review here.
UPDATE 2: So was The Guardian’s John Fordham – his review is online here or see below…
Posted by on 21/01/2011 at 21:26 in gigs, news and tagged gig, guardian, london, londonjazz, review, ronnie scott's, ronnie's, times. Leave comments here.
Ian Mann (aka The Jazz Mann) has taken a listen to the Beats & Pieces EP for a review on his site… and he liked it a lot!
Beats & Pieces is no polite youth jazz orchestra and this EP is an invigorating and often surprising listen… packed as it is with youthful exuberance, fiery playing and a high degree of technical skill.
You can read the full review here, and whilst you’re there be sure to check out the rest of the site; its a great resource for the latest CD and live reviews, as well as listings for gigs across the country. Ian also checked out the HAQ EP – read that review in full here.
Posted by on 07/04/2010 at 21:59 in news and tagged ep, haq, ian mann, review, the jazz mann. Leave comments here.
We’ve just got another great review from Sean Gregson in the Tasty fanzine (www.tastyfanzine.org.uk) – cheers Sean! The opening of the review goes like this:
I’ll admit, I’m an old romantic (which takes less grooming time than a new one). So, when I first heard the Beats and Pieces Big Band, my mind drifted to a future where I could say, ‘Me? Oh, yeah, I’ve been into them since the beginning’. It’s hard to place the music that they create. Attempting to describe is a challenge in itself. Let’s just say, though, this is a beast.
If that opening paragraph has whet your appetite for the rest of the review (which it really should!) then you can check it out in full here. Also take a look at the similarly great review for HAQ (“What’s so impressive about HAQ is their ability to cut through the shit and get right to those basic emotions we all share, each track offering a truly distinctive and unique journey”) that follows just below…
Posted by on 24/03/2010 at 10:54 in news and tagged ep, fanzine, review, sean gregson, tasty. Leave comments here.
We’ve got another review of the EP, this time by Jazzwise contributor Chris Ackerley, writing on his blog, The Sound Of Now – cheers, Chris! You can read the post here, or the full text is posted below. You may also have read the review in the NWJazzworks newsletter, thats written by Chris. If you don’t already subscribe, its a great monthly roundup of all the jazz happenings in the region, so head over to NWJazzworks to sign-up!
Remember, the EP is still available to purchase (£5, handmade limited edition CD) or download for free/flexible price at the Efpi Records site, but if you’re after the limited edition CD then hurry as we’re fast running out!
From its explosive opening bars until its final lingering hum, the Beats & Pieces Big Band’s first EP is nothing less than a bombardment of the senses. The brainchild of Manchester based composer Ben Cottrell, this sizable affair unites the cream of Manchester’s emerging jazz talent, including Sam Andreae (t. sax), Fin Panter (dr), and Graham South (trp).
At its core the ensemble is traditional big band, but by cross-stitching a multitude of genres to its already rich tapestry of sound, something both unique and fresh has emerged. On tracks such as Yafw (part iii) there are reminisces of Quincy Jones’ more malevolent 1970s blaxploitation soundtracks; the underlying latino groove being almost chased along by the dangerously edgy horn section.
Elsewhere, the compositions also show a real elegant restraint, with classy arrangements that show the record’s maturity. This is most notable in the EP’s final track, Broken, which also manages to combine subtle electronic elements successfully. Bjork is evidently an influence, and here the highly lyrical playing is matched with an almost Nordic chill, which acts as calming digestif after some of the more frenzied earlier tracks.
This is a rich and colourful first CD that comfortably combines Hendrixesque guitar riffs, Herbie Hancock style funk, and even inflections of Eno’s ambient music. While for many groups this osmosis of ideas would produce a conflicting overall sound, Beats & Pieces Big Band have created something that’s both catchy and original.
Posted by on 19/01/2010 at 13:09 in beats & pieces, news and tagged beatsandpieces, beatsnpieces, chrisackerley, efpi, ep, review, thesoundofnow. Leave comments here.
The new EP received 4/5 stars in a review by Mike Butler in yesterday’s (11th December) Manchester Evening News – great news, cheers Mike! Full review is posted below…
Posted by on 12/12/2009 at 14:29 in beats & pieces, news and tagged beats, beats & pieces, beatsandpieces, beatsnpieces, efpi, ep, haq, manchestereveningnews, mikebutler, review. Leave comments here.
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