Chris Biscoe
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Chris Biscoe: email: chrisbiscoemail (at) gmail (dot) com
Chris Biscoe: email: chrisbiscoemail (at) gmail (dot) com
Chris Biscoe Profiles Quartet
CHRIS BISCOE – alto sax and alto clarinet
ALCYONA MICK – piano
LARRY BARTLEY – bass
WINSTON CLIFFORD – drums
ALCYONA MICK – piano
LARRY BARTLEY – bass
WINSTON CLIFFORD – drums
Jazz has always been a music about people and places, the connections, the routes (and roots) between, the meetings and the getting away.
When I recorded some of the repertoire from my band Mingus Moves I realised how many of Charles Mingus’ compositions are dedications to musicians, friends and family, lovers and political enemies, not forgetting one toilet-trained cat. The CD was Profiles of Mingus, and this became the working name for the band.
The Profiles Quartet draws on this tradition, expanding it to include compositions by other jazz greats.
When I recorded some of the repertoire from my band Mingus Moves I realised how many of Charles Mingus’ compositions are dedications to musicians, friends and family, lovers and political enemies, not forgetting one toilet-trained cat. The CD was Profiles of Mingus, and this became the working name for the band.
The Profiles Quartet draws on this tradition, expanding it to include compositions by other jazz greats.
Tunes for the quartet include Thelonious Monk’s Jackie-ing (written for his niece Jackie Smith) and Monk’s Dream, Eric Dolphy’s Miss Ann and his portrait of Monk, Hat and Beard. It’s impossible to leave out Charles Mingus, who is represented by Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (for Lester Young), Pussy Cat Dues (that bemused looking cat perched on a Manhattan apartment toilet seat), and Fables of Faubus, the great satirical composition ‘dedicated’ to Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas.
CHRIS BISCOE – alto sax and alto clarinet
came to prominence in the late 1970’s, with Mike Westbrook’s Brass Band. The first concert was Mama Chicago, including Mike’s Goin to Chicago. Chris has played with many Westbrook bands since, including The Cortege, The Westbrook Trio, Bar Utopia, London Bridge is Falling Down and Band of Bands.
came to prominence in the late 1970’s, with Mike Westbrook’s Brass Band. The first concert was Mama Chicago, including Mike’s Goin to Chicago. Chris has played with many Westbrook bands since, including The Cortege, The Westbrook Trio, Bar Utopia, London Bridge is Falling Down and Band of Bands.
Chris toured and recorded extensively with American jazz legend George Russell, and also played with Andrew Hill, David Murray, Dewey Redman, Bobby Previte and Dave Bargeron. He toured with Hermeto Pascoal. In the UK he played extensively with The Dedication Orchestra, The Brotherhood of Breath, The Grand Union Orchestra, Tony Kofi, Harry Beckett, Liam Noble, Pete Hurt, Kate Williams, Peter Jacobsen, Allison Neale, Brian Godding, Stan Sulzmann Tony Marsh, Henry Lowther and Kenny Wheeler.
In France he played and recorded with Didier Levallet, Dominique Pifarely, and The Orchestre National de Jazz.
In France he played and recorded with Didier Levallet, Dominique Pifarely, and The Orchestre National de Jazz.
Records under his name include The Chris Biscoe Sextet (with Peter Jacobsen), Gone in the Air – The Music of Eric Dolphy, and Live at Campus West, both with Tony Kofi, Profiles of Mingus, Then and Now by Two of a Mind with Allison Neale, and Music Is – Chris Biscoe plays Mike Westbrook with Mike Outram and Kate Williams. Collaborative bands and records include Full Monte – Spark in the Dark, Cartoon and The Swipe Trio.
Chris is a founder member of Way Out West, the west London jazz collective which has presented over 800 concerts since 2004.
Chris is a founder member of Way Out West, the west London jazz collective which has presented over 800 concerts since 2004.
Chris Biscoe crosses musical boundaries in his playing, from ‘cool’ on baritone sax with Allison Neale, post bop with Tony Kofi, contemporary jazz with Liam Noble, through to free and improv jazz with Roger Turner, Kazu Uchihasi, Marcio Mattos and Tony Marsh.
ALCYONA MICK – piano
Alcyona is a pianist working at the forefront of the London Jazz scene. Recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist Award, she is a member of the London Jazz Orchestra, Tori Freestone/Alcyona Mick Duo, Brigitte Beraha Lucid Dreamers, Casimir Connection, Perfect Stranger, Josephine Davies Enso Ensemble, Randolph Matthews band, Paul Clarvis/Stuart Hall trio and has worked with Anglo/Egyptian artist Natacha Atlas for many years, performing worldwide.
Alcyona is a pianist working at the forefront of the London Jazz scene. Recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist Award, she is a member of the London Jazz Orchestra, Tori Freestone/Alcyona Mick Duo, Brigitte Beraha Lucid Dreamers, Casimir Connection, Perfect Stranger, Josephine Davies Enso Ensemble, Randolph Matthews band, Paul Clarvis/Stuart Hall trio and has worked with Anglo/Egyptian artist Natacha Atlas for many years, performing worldwide.
As a composer she has a Master's in Composing music for film from the National Film and Television school. She has written and produced music for many independent short films, documentaries, animation and silent cinema. She won an award for Best Soundtrack at the Anima Mundi International Festival, Brazil.
'world class ingenuity' the Guardian
'Alcyona Mick is an unusual powerhouse of a talent' – MOJO
'world class ingenuity' the Guardian
'Alcyona Mick is an unusual powerhouse of a talent' – MOJO
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She has played on TRT music series in Istanbul with many Turkish artists, and performed with a wide array of other musicians including Yazz Ahmed, Henry Lowther’s Still Waters, Kate Shortt, Ingrid and Christine Jensen/Whirlwind big band, Nikki Iles big band, Eddie Parker, Alec Dankworth/Cleo Laine band, Mircan Kaya, Bachar Zarkan, Jerry Dammers Spatial aka Orchestra, Ibrahim Maalouf, Macadi Nahhas, Zoe Rahman and many more.
click on images for larger view
LARRY BARTLEY - bass
Larry Bartley is a bassist and composer who has been a staple of the London and international jazz scene as a side man and as a leader.
His album Beauty in the Hideous featuring Tony Kofi, Ed Jones and Rod Youngs, was released in 2014. His 2003 debut album, Along This Way was nominated for Best New Work in the BBC Jazz Awards. Larry has played and recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Abdullah Ibrahim, Bennie Maupin, Steve Grossman, Jean Toussaint, Cleveland Watkiss, Courtney Pine, Denys Baptiste, Ingrid Laubrock, Johnathan Gee, Steve Williamson, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messangers), David Murray, Orrin Evans and Gary Bartz, among many others.
Larry Bartley is a bassist and composer who has been a staple of the London and international jazz scene as a side man and as a leader.
His album Beauty in the Hideous featuring Tony Kofi, Ed Jones and Rod Youngs, was released in 2014. His 2003 debut album, Along This Way was nominated for Best New Work in the BBC Jazz Awards. Larry has played and recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Abdullah Ibrahim, Bennie Maupin, Steve Grossman, Jean Toussaint, Cleveland Watkiss, Courtney Pine, Denys Baptiste, Ingrid Laubrock, Johnathan Gee, Steve Williamson, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messangers), David Murray, Orrin Evans and Gary Bartz, among many others.
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WINSTON CLIFFORD – drums
a powerhouse behind the kit for a wide variety of great bands, led by the likes of Gwilym Simcock, Monty Alexander, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson and Courtney Pine.
A master of a huge array of drum techniques, Clifford is constantly inventive, immersed in a stream of consciousness yet with ears wide open to hints, suggestions and prompts from his playing partners. He regularly plays around the kit with his bare hands for softer timbres, another card to play in the constant search for dynamic expression and imaginative phrasing.
a powerhouse behind the kit for a wide variety of great bands, led by the likes of Gwilym Simcock, Monty Alexander, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson and Courtney Pine.
A master of a huge array of drum techniques, Clifford is constantly inventive, immersed in a stream of consciousness yet with ears wide open to hints, suggestions and prompts from his playing partners. He regularly plays around the kit with his bare hands for softer timbres, another card to play in the constant search for dynamic expression and imaginative phrasing.
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Photo by Tatiana Gorilovsky
PROGRAMME DRAWN FROM
Thelonious Monk
Jackie-ing
Monk’s Dream
Eric Dolphy
Miss Ann
Hat and Beard
Les
Charles Mingus
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (for Lester Young)
Pussy Cat Dues
Fables of Faubus, the great satirical composition ‘dedicated’ to Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas.
Elvin Jones
Dear John C
Mike Westbrook
Blues for Terenzi
Pete Hurt
Magic Meg
Chris Biscoe
Well He Would
Sweet Pea (for Billy Strayhorn)
Thelonious Monk
Jackie-ing
Monk’s Dream
Eric Dolphy
Miss Ann
Hat and Beard
Les
Charles Mingus
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (for Lester Young)
Pussy Cat Dues
Fables of Faubus, the great satirical composition ‘dedicated’ to Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas.
Elvin Jones
Dear John C
Mike Westbrook
Blues for Terenzi
Pete Hurt
Magic Meg
Chris Biscoe
Well He Would
Sweet Pea (for Billy Strayhorn)
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