QUAQUA ANGLO AUSTRIA With thanks to the Austrian Cultural Forum we present a two night Anglo Austrian improvised music meeting with Steve Beresford (piano / electronics) / Tanja Feichtmair (sax) / Satoko Fukuda (violin) / Henry Lowther (trumpet) / Maggie Nichols (voice) / Mario Rechtern (sax) / John Russell (guitar) / Roger Turner (drums / percussion) / Mia Zabelka (violin / voice). Each night will have a different programme of smaller combinations and also feature a large group with everyone playing together.

Presenting an intriguing “concert in two halves” with the first half from the Portfolio Improvisers group and the second featuring three fine guitar players from the UK, France and Canada. Part One – Portfolio Improvisers: Seth Bennett (bass), Shaun Blezard (electronics), Anton Hunter (guitar), Rachel Musson (saxophone), Shelly Knotts (electronics), Julie Kjaer (saxophone, flute) led by Steve Beresford (piano) We are delighted to be hosting this excellent scheme with many thanks to Sound and Music.

An evening featuring four established duos from the finest in free improvisation Chris Burn (trumpets), Matt Hutchinson (piano) Jim Dvorak (trumpet), Harrison Smith (saxophone) SQ – Paul Pignon (single reeds and electronics) & Thomas Bjelkeborn (electronics) We gratefully acknowledge financial assistance from The Swedish Arts Council towards this appearance. Phil Minton (voice) & John Russell (guitar)

Owing to technical problems we have no video or audio recordings of this concert. So in the words of Eric Dolphy, “When you hear music, after it’s over, it’s gone in the air. You can never capture it again.” Neil Metcalfe (flute), Daniel Thompson (guitar) Highly musical and non demonstrative duo that gets to the core of what it means to improvise. Close listening and a fine attention to detail coupled with a firm technical grasp make for an intimate and highly charged listening experience.

Mopomoso presents ‘Debuts’ The groups playing on this concert were all making their Mopomoso debuts. Utter Chaos – Andrea Caputo (guitar) & Massimo Semprini (sax) Stephen Grew (piano) Nick Malcolm (trumpet), Hannah Marshall (cello) & Lauren Kinsella (voice) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op5gzdxv61c John Russell (guitar) & Kay Grant (voice)

Trio Rewind – Noel Taylor (bass /soprano clarinets), Tom Wheatley (bass), John Garcia (tiplé) with guest Tommaso Vespo (piano) Wire Assembly – Ian Simpson (electric guitar), John Jasnoch (electric guitar) & Neil Carver (electric guitar) Alice Eldridge (cello), Satoko Fukuda (violin) & John Russell (guitar)

Nicola Guazzaloca (piano) & Hannah Marshall (cello) Dave Tucker (guitar) Urs Leimgruber (sax) & John Russell (guitar)

An annual end of year celebration of all things improvised with a ‘cast of thousands’. Since its inception some years ago Mopomoso’s end of year improvisorama has become a focal point for musicians to come and play in a series of short sets; to meet old friends and to make new ones. Certainly ‘the best party in town’ where audiences get a chance to experience a wide range of music in a less formal setting than our regular concert series.

To coincide with the 2013 London Jazz Festival a concert from guitarist John Russell’s Quaqua group, this time as a 14 piece international ensemble. The evening starts and finishes with the full ensemble and in between are smaller combinations picked by Russell. The individual musician’s experiences cover an enormous range and there is a similarly wide diversity in their approaches to playing music. The common ground is a shared love of free improvisation and a desire to play music together.

Continuing to present great music with three contrasting sets emphasising the intriguing diversity of approaches to be found in free improvisation. Kay Grant (voice), Daniel Thompson (guitar), Benedict Taylor (viola) & Alex Ward (clarinet) Yoko Miura (piano) & Charlie Collins (percussion) FURT - Richard Barrett and Paul Obermayer (electronics) plus guest John Russell (electric guitar)

Stefan Keune (saxophone), Dominic Lash (bass) & Steve Noble (drums) The ever inventive Keune arrives from his native Germany to try out this new trio. They were booked to play earlier in the year but sadly couldn’t owing to travel problems caused by the weather. Anticipating a set of fire and intensity with an underlying native wit from three talented and experienced musicians. Shih Yang Lee (piano) Taiwanese piano player Shih-Yang Lee is on his first trip to Europe and we are delighted to have him play a solo set for us.

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